Critical report - Fernand Leger
The works of Fernand Leger
After visiting several galleries in London - ('The Royal Academy of Arts', 'The Tate') and Paris - ('The Pompidou Centre') in the christmas break; I became repeatedly attracted to the work of Fernand Leger.. .
Leger was born in Argentan, 1881. He was a French painter. In 1903 he studied at the Ecole des Ats Decoratifs. From 1909 he began to associate with the cubists, he subsequently became the first of the cubists to experiment with non representational abstraction. After some early paintings (impressionist related) I think the encounter with Paul Cezannes work, proved crucial for Legers development. In 1909-10 he painted Nudes in the Forest
I feel this work displayed what he had learned from Cezanne's teaching; to adapt from nature the forms of the cone, the cylinder and the sphere. When I saw Leger's The City, 1919, in Paris, I thought it represented Leger celebrating the machine in a raw, energetic style. The relations of geometric forms and mechanical pistons, cogs and robots, were all important parts of his artistic vision. I think it is also apparent in "Mechanical Elements" which I also observed in the Pompidou centre, Paris. I found Leger is famous for linking industry to art.
This painting was influenced by the War, it was painted just after it. This portrays radiant and brutal modern life. This has been exposed with pure, flat colours. The colour use is free; I think this abstract composition portrays modern life effectively. He chiefly uses primary colours; he has included sculptures and mayonette like figures which re appear somewhere in most of his work.
To Leger I think the war proved that it was important to humanize the machine age and show its more positive effects on society. This became the principal theme of his art in the 1920s. Also in 1920 I found the human figure re appeared in Legers work but combined with industrial elements.
In 1940 he travelled extensively and his work during this period, I feel, was inspired by the American industrial landscape. It was at this point that he began to minimize the connection between colour and outline.
During the Second World War Leger lived in the U.S.A his painting at this time consisted of compositions featuring mainly acrobats and cyclists; this is evident in "Gray Acrobats." After his return to France in 1945, I feel his work reflected more prominently his political interest with the working classes.
In 1949 he opened a studio for ceramics with former pupil Robert Brice and made their glass mosaics for the University of Caracas (1954). The War over, 1945 Leger returned to France to begin what I found to be his last great phase of creative activity. At the height of his fame, Leger was awarded the Grand prize at the Sao Paulo Bienal exhibition, 1955, the year of his death.
Mother and Child (Dog Under the Table)
The main colours in this painting are red, black and white but I feel you focus mainly on the use of colour on the table, ironically over powering the dog under the table which is highlighted in the title. The mother is a statuesque figure and is fully clothed in the colour rose. I think her presence is challenged by the red vessel on the table at her side. The architectural settings consist of a geometric pattern of brightly coloured planes and a scaffold of white, grey and black.
I don't think the mood of this painting shouts to you happiness and excitement. I think it sends off quite a depressing feel with the prevailing use of blacks, greys and dark reds. The figures in this are very organized and are not giving off any character or feeling like other portraits would with facial expressions. The painting is highly stylized, it is given structure by the black grid of horizontal and verticals which holds the structure together. It includes mayonette like figures. The colour is concentrated around the central circle of the table top, giving you somewhere to divert your eyes. I like the way the painting seems sectioned and organised.
Three Women
Leger has used large static figures, which immediately catch your eyes. The composition is dominated by these large figures. I found Leger had separated one of the figures from the other two, making it more distinct by using a darker skin colour which caught my eye primarily. Due to the rectangular positioning of the figures, my eyes followed the path round admiring all the figures, starting from the bottom right corner.
The background is full of activity and has a selection of geometric planes. I found at first my eyes didn't know where to look, due to the hectic arrangement of bold colours and diverse patterns. I had to look several times to admire and appreciate everything that was going on. Although the background is very active I found myself ignorant to it, due to the large figures positioned central in the painting; also they are portrayed in simplistic, block colour.
Fruit dish on a table, 1909
Leger has used a range of subdued colours, the picture isn't very vibrant and I think this colour scheme reflects his feeling of closeness to this new analytical cubism. This piece is one of Legers earlier works; it contains smaller, undefined brush strokes. I think, the application of the paint gives the painting added texture, giving it a three dimensional feel. Leger was working alongside Braque at the time he painted this piece; I think they will have influenced each others works.
Femme au Mirroir
As Leger developed his own style, I noticed a change in technique from textured and built up areas of colour to very flat, block and precise compositions. I think all Legers later works are characterised by this distinctive set of techniques; he uses large, flat blocks of bold colour which give the composition structure and form.
If you have enjoyed looking at Legers work as much as I have, and would like to find out more about him; here are a few links to some good web pages I have found:
http://www.abacus-gallery.com/cgi-bin/shop/artists/leger
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/leger_fernand.html
http://www.mcs.csuhayward.edu/~malek/Leger.html
http://www.artcult.com/leger.htm
http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/?lid=652
After visiting several galleries in London - ('The Royal Academy of Arts', 'The Tate') and Paris - ('The Pompidou Centre') in the christmas break; I became repeatedly attracted to the work of Fernand Leger.. .
Leger was born in Argentan, 1881. He was a French painter. In 1903 he studied at the Ecole des Ats Decoratifs. From 1909 he began to associate with the cubists, he subsequently became the first of the cubists to experiment with non representational abstraction. After some early paintings (impressionist related) I think the encounter with Paul Cezannes work, proved crucial for Legers development. In 1909-10 he painted Nudes in the Forest
I feel this work displayed what he had learned from Cezanne's teaching; to adapt from nature the forms of the cone, the cylinder and the sphere. When I saw Leger's The City, 1919, in Paris, I thought it represented Leger celebrating the machine in a raw, energetic style. The relations of geometric forms and mechanical pistons, cogs and robots, were all important parts of his artistic vision. I think it is also apparent in "Mechanical Elements" which I also observed in the Pompidou centre, Paris. I found Leger is famous for linking industry to art.
This painting was influenced by the War, it was painted just after it. This portrays radiant and brutal modern life. This has been exposed with pure, flat colours. The colour use is free; I think this abstract composition portrays modern life effectively. He chiefly uses primary colours; he has included sculptures and mayonette like figures which re appear somewhere in most of his work.
To Leger I think the war proved that it was important to humanize the machine age and show its more positive effects on society. This became the principal theme of his art in the 1920s. Also in 1920 I found the human figure re appeared in Legers work but combined with industrial elements.
In 1940 he travelled extensively and his work during this period, I feel, was inspired by the American industrial landscape. It was at this point that he began to minimize the connection between colour and outline.
During the Second World War Leger lived in the U.S.A his painting at this time consisted of compositions featuring mainly acrobats and cyclists; this is evident in "Gray Acrobats." After his return to France in 1945, I feel his work reflected more prominently his political interest with the working classes.
In 1949 he opened a studio for ceramics with former pupil Robert Brice and made their glass mosaics for the University of Caracas (1954). The War over, 1945 Leger returned to France to begin what I found to be his last great phase of creative activity. At the height of his fame, Leger was awarded the Grand prize at the Sao Paulo Bienal exhibition, 1955, the year of his death.
Mother and Child (Dog Under the Table)
The main colours in this painting are red, black and white but I feel you focus mainly on the use of colour on the table, ironically over powering the dog under the table which is highlighted in the title. The mother is a statuesque figure and is fully clothed in the colour rose. I think her presence is challenged by the red vessel on the table at her side. The architectural settings consist of a geometric pattern of brightly coloured planes and a scaffold of white, grey and black.
I don't think the mood of this painting shouts to you happiness and excitement. I think it sends off quite a depressing feel with the prevailing use of blacks, greys and dark reds. The figures in this are very organized and are not giving off any character or feeling like other portraits would with facial expressions. The painting is highly stylized, it is given structure by the black grid of horizontal and verticals which holds the structure together. It includes mayonette like figures. The colour is concentrated around the central circle of the table top, giving you somewhere to divert your eyes. I like the way the painting seems sectioned and organised.
Three Women
Leger has used large static figures, which immediately catch your eyes. The composition is dominated by these large figures. I found Leger had separated one of the figures from the other two, making it more distinct by using a darker skin colour which caught my eye primarily. Due to the rectangular positioning of the figures, my eyes followed the path round admiring all the figures, starting from the bottom right corner.
The background is full of activity and has a selection of geometric planes. I found at first my eyes didn't know where to look, due to the hectic arrangement of bold colours and diverse patterns. I had to look several times to admire and appreciate everything that was going on. Although the background is very active I found myself ignorant to it, due to the large figures positioned central in the painting; also they are portrayed in simplistic, block colour.
Fruit dish on a table, 1909
Leger has used a range of subdued colours, the picture isn't very vibrant and I think this colour scheme reflects his feeling of closeness to this new analytical cubism. This piece is one of Legers earlier works; it contains smaller, undefined brush strokes. I think, the application of the paint gives the painting added texture, giving it a three dimensional feel. Leger was working alongside Braque at the time he painted this piece; I think they will have influenced each others works.
Femme au Mirroir
As Leger developed his own style, I noticed a change in technique from textured and built up areas of colour to very flat, block and precise compositions. I think all Legers later works are characterised by this distinctive set of techniques; he uses large, flat blocks of bold colour which give the composition structure and form.
If you have enjoyed looking at Legers work as much as I have, and would like to find out more about him; here are a few links to some good web pages I have found:
http://www.abacus-gallery.com/cgi-bin/shop/artists/leger
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/leger_fernand.html
http://www.mcs.csuhayward.edu/~malek/Leger.html
http://www.artcult.com/leger.htm
http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/?lid=652
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