9ger Fernand Leger (1881 – 1955) By Denise Jackson

Fernand Leger was born in France. He was trained as an architect and moved to Paris, where he supported himself as a architectural draftsman. He began work as a painter at the age of 25.

letters.html Fernand Leger’s first paintings showed influences of Impressionism. The painting on the left is one of the few paintings from this period that he did not later destroy. The painting on the right was painted a few years later in which he showed influences of cubism. The Art critics called it “Tubism” for its emphasis on cylindrical forms.

and-lger-french-cubist-and-futurist.html Here is another cubist style still life painted by Leger, on the left. What similarities do see when comparing it to the painting on the right that was painted by the cubist artist Pablo Picasso? What differences do you see?

Fernand Leger’s artwork falls into the category of Modern Art. What is Modern art? Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. Modern artists experimented with new ways of seeing and with fresh ideas about the nature of materials and functions of art. A tendency toward abstraction is characteristic of much modern art. Modern art is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of experimentation.abstraction s/?prm=a12-b97-c554-d0-e0

Contrasting Forms ml What is Abstract art? Art that does not depict objects in the natural world, but instead uses color and form in a non-representational way. It is art that exaggerates, is simplified or distorted. Leger’s paintings became increasingly abstract. He painted tubular, conical and cubes forms with rough patches of primary colors with green, black and white. Can you find three different forms in this painting?

The Bargeman art/ Can you find three forms in this painting? What color family is used?

The City

pg The Builders Later in life, Leger created many paintings of people like acrobats, divers, farmers and builders. What similarities does this painting have with Leger’s earlier paintings? What color family do you see in this painting? What shapes or forms do you see in this painting?

The Construction Workers scow-art-fair-2008.htm

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