Fernand Léger

Composition sur fond jaune

1952

Utilizing a bold color palette of red, black, yellow, and blue-grey, Leger creates an abstract work in which shapes and forms appear to drift in space. The large, red central image h...

Braque Le Signe (The Sign), 1954 is an intricate and mysterious piece. This work comes from a period in Braque’s life in which he became considerably more in...

Lithograph, 1954 Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 59/75 Publisher : Galerie Louise Leiris (Paris) Printer : Mourlot (Paris) Catalog : Saphire 138 50.00 cm. x 65.00 cm....

This exquisite lithograph by Fernand Leger (1881–1955), titled Composition sur fond rouge (Composition on a Red Background), from the folio Derriere le miroir, L’art abstrait, No. 21-22, originates from the 1949 edition published by Maeght Editeur, Paris, and printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1949. The composition exemplifies Leger’s distinctive modernist vision, uniting color, structure, and rhythm into a celebration of harmony between abstraction and industrial dynamism. Executed as a lithograph on velin paper, this work measures 15 x 22 inches, with centerfold as issued. Unsigned and unnumbered as issued. The edition exemplifies the superb craftsmanship of Mourlot Freres, Paris. Artwork Details: Artist: Fernand Leger (1881–1955) Title: Composition sur fond rouge (Composition on a Red Background), from the folio Derriere le miroir, L’art abstrait, No. 21-22 Medium: Lithograph on velin paper Dimensions: 15 x 22 inches (38.1 x 55.9 cm), with centerfold as issued Inscription: Unsigned and unnumbered as issued Date: 1949 Publisher: Maeght Editeur, Paris Printer: Mourlot Freres, Paris Catalogue Raisonne Reference: Leger, Fernand, and Lawrence Saphire. Fernand Leger: The Complete Graphic Work. Blue Moon Press, 1978, illustration 90. Condition: Well preserved, consistent with age and medium Provenance: From the folio Derriere le miroir, L’art abstrait, No. 21-22, published by Maeght Editeur, Paris; printed by Mourlot Freres, Paris, 1949 About the Publication: Derriere le miroir (Behind the Mirror) was one of the most important art publications of the 20th century, created and published by Maeght Editeur in Paris from 1946 to 1982. Founded by the visionary art dealer and publisher Aime Maeght, the series served as both an exhibition catalogue and a work of art in its own right, uniting original lithographs by leading modern and contemporary artists with critical essays, poetry, and design of the highest quality. Printed by master lithographers such as Mourlot Freres and Arte, Derriere le miroir became synonymous with the artistic vanguard of postwar Europe. Each issue was devoted to a single artist or theme and published to accompany exhibitions at the Galerie Maeght in Paris, featuring works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Fernand Leger, and Alberto Giacometti, among others. The publication reflected Maeght’s belief that art should be both accessible and elevated—an ideal realized through its luxurious production values, meticulous printing, and collaboration with the greatest creative minds of its time. About the Artist: Fernand Leger (1881–1955) was a French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker whose pioneering fusion of modern life, mechanization, and visual abstraction made him one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Emerging from the Cubist movement, Leger developed a highly personal style distinguished by bold color contrasts, cylindrical forms, and rhythmic compositions that celebrated the beauty of industrial progress and the vitality of modern urban life. Deeply influenced by the innovations of Paul Cezanne and the structural experimentation of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Leger transformed Cubism’s fragmented perspective into a dynamic, machine-age aesthetic that bridged fine art, architecture, and design. His work often depicted workers, machinery, and everyday objects as monumental symbols of harmony between humanity and technology, reflecting both his optimism for modernity and his belief in the democratization of art. During his career, Leger was part of an extraordinary artistic circle that included Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Alberto Giacometti, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Duchamp, and Man Ray—visionaries who shared his commitment to pushing the boundaries of artistic form and expression. A leading figure in the international avant-garde, Leger also explored large-scale murals, public art, and film, expanding the reach of modern art beyond the gallery. His works are represented in major museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Centre Pompidou, the Tate, and the Guggenheim, where they continue to inspire admiration for their bold geometry, humanist vision, and timeless modernity. The highest price ever paid for a Fernand Leger artwork is approximately 70 million USD, achieved in 2017 at Christie’s New York for Contraste de formes (1913). Fernand Leger Composition...