A painter as well as a filmmaker, illustrator, stage-set designer, ceramicist and printmaker, Fernand Léger was one of the most prolific artists of the first half of the 20th century. His early mature work as a Cubist was marked by the use of bold colors and contrasts and a visual vocabulary inspired by industrial technology. In his later career, Léger turned to idiomatic, almost naïve depictions of human figures, in a belief that his work should be accessible to ordinary people and relevant to their lives.
Born in Normandy, the son of a cattle trader, Léger worked as an architectural draftsman in Paris while studying art. By 1908 he was a member of an artistic circle that included Marc Chagall, Robert Delaunay, sculptor Jacques Lipchitz, and the poet Guillaume Appolinaire, and through them he became connected to the Cubists. As opposed to the flat planes and neutral hues seen in the paintings of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Léger’s Cubist abstractions were devised with vivid colors and forms that had dimensionality. Soon after his army service in World War I — he was gassed at the Battle of Verdun — Léger entered his “mechanical” period. Convinced that technology would improve the human condition, he painted compositions of tubular shapes and cylinders that are reminiscent of machine parts. In other work, Léger sought to capture the bustle and brio of modern life with references to railroad stations, factories, street signs and billboards.
Léger had also emerged from the trenches with a deep concern to make his art engage the sorts of men and women he had met during the war. He sought to bring his work to a wider audience through film, theater sets and book illustrations. In the 1920s, influenced by Purism — a variant on Cubism that promoted a simpler and more direct approach to forms and compositions — Léger produced a series of paintings depicting everyday objects: a soda siphon, an accordion, a guitar and vase. The human figure returned to his work. By 1930, pure abstraction disappeared almost completely from Léger’s art in favor of simple studies of people. Their boldly outlined forms, placed against a bright background, can be regarded as an assemblage of parts — yet in these representations of dancers, acrobats and folks on bicycles, Léger seems to be articulating a kind of kinship and affection. You will see from the works on offer why Fernand Léger is often regarded as the warmest and most humane of the great modern artists.
Find a collection of original Fernand Léger art today on 1stDibs.
"The Builders" 1950 Fernand Leger Litograph Arches France
By Fernand Léger
Located in Brescia, IT
LES CONSTRUCTEURS Fernand Léger France, 1950 Litograph on Arches Paper Original Wood Frame Very good Condiction The subject of constructions workers is one of the best-known projec...
Paper
Signed and numbered lithograph by Fernand Leger
By Fernand Léger
Located in LE CANNET, FR
Lithograph by Fernand Léger (1881-1955), on Arches paper, signed and numbered 12/300. In 1900, he settled in Paris, where he attended the École des Arts Décoratifs and the Académie ...
Paper
Fernand Léger Colour Lithograph, Nadia Léger Edition, France, circa 1970
By Fernand Léger
Located in LYON, FR
Maison Lecan presents this colour lithograph by Fernand Léger, monogrammed lower right "F. Léger 30.". Stamp on the reverse: Edition Nadia Khodossievitch - Léger Atelier - Successio...
Paper
John Taylor Arms - Arch of the Conca, Perugia Etching, 1926
Located in Savannah, GA
John Taylor Arms (American, 1887-1953) Arch of the Conca, Perugia etching, 1926 signed, dated lower right: John Taylor Arms, 1926 sight: 15 ¼ by 11 inches frame: 20 by 15 inch...
Paper
Fernand Lèger Composition aux Dominos Lithograph
By Fernand Léger
Located in Bradenton, FL
Lèger, Fernand, (French, 1881-1955): "Composition aux Dominos" Lithograph. Lèger was a French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker and was considered a forerunner of Pop Art. This lithog...
Paper
$22,000
H 40.25 in W 47.25 in D 1.5 in
Helen Frankenthaler "Dream Walk" Lithograph, Signed and Numbered 39/47
By Helen Frankenthaler
Located in Toledo, OH
Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) Six color lithograph, Dream Walk, 1977. Number 39 from an edition of 47, pencil lower left corner. Signed and dated 1977 in pencil in lower right cor...
Paper
$3,500
H 13.75 in W 21.75 in D 1 in
Joan Miro Lithograph Titled "Miro Sculptor Japan, " Signed and Numbered
By Joan Miró
Located in New York, NY
This is a Joan Miro lithograph. Titled: Miro Sculptor Japan. It was a print exclusively for Collector's Guild members. Signed in the stone. Numbered 2/1000 in pencil. Framed measures...
Paper
$5,499
H 20 in W 16 in D 0.75 in
Joan Miró "La Bague du Sanglier" Lithograph, Signed and Numbered, 1967
By Joan Miró
Located in Oxnard, CA
Joan Miró (1893-1983) "La Bague du Sanglier" Limited Edition Lithograph on Arches paper Numbered 93/100 Hand signed in pencil Published by Maeght Éditeur, Paris Framed dimensions: ...
Paper
Limited Edition Lithograph by Keith Finch
By Keith Bruce Finch
Located in Surrey, BC
Signed and numbered abstract of child and woman in great condition by Keith Bruce Finch. He was born in Holyoke, Colorado on October 9, 1919. Finch was most active in Los Angeles i...
Paper
$3,751
H 35.44 in W 44.49 in D 0.79 in
Lithograph by Van Velde Bram, Signed and Numbered 50/100, 20th century
By Bram Van Velde
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Original Lithograph by Van Velde Bram, Signed and Numbered 50/100, XXth Century. H: 61cm and W: 84cm with frame: H: 90cm, W: 113cm, D: 2cm. Contact us before ordering to confirm pro...
Paper
Custom Framed Lithograph by Marcel Vertes, Signed and Numbered
By Marcel Vertès
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This is a beautiful custom-framed lithograph by Hungarian-born French artist, Marcel Vertes, entitled "Circus Queens". The piece is signed, Vertes, in the lower right corner and numbered, "30/50" in the lower left corner. The image itself measures 23" high x 16" wide. The frame is a 2" thick 2 toned framed, black and a subtle cerused-like grey. It was originally sold through the Vincent Price...
Wood
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 47 in W 47 in D 2 in
Large Colorful Geometric Lithograph Signed and Numbered by Karim Rashid
By Karim Rashid
Located in San Diego, CA
Large colorful geometric lithograph signed and numbered by Canadian artist and designer Karim Rashid, circa 2000s. The bright and vibrant colors fuse with the progressive geometric d...
Paper, Wood
Limited edition lithograph by Antoni Tàpies
By Antoni Tàpies
Located in Long Island City, NY
Limited edition lithograph by Antoni Tàpies ( 1923- 2012). Signed in pencil by artist . Framed . Dimensions: with frame 28.5" x 21.5" ; image 24.5" x 17".
Paper
Victor Vasarely Signed and Numbered Silk Screen Lithograph
By Victor Vasarely
Located in North Miami, FL
This beautiful silk screen litho is signed and numbered 209 of 250. Frame is original to period. Psychedelic patterns that emerge from early computational experiments parallel Optica...
Glass, Paper
$380Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 20 in D 0.01 in
Striking Original Signed Numbered and Dated Lithograph by Caroline Pinto, 1981
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful well done litho signed numbered limited edition 5/25 " Flavor of The Month VI, by Caroline Pinto, the image by itself its 23" by 17" approximate, the paper shows damage o...
Paper
Fernand Leger Exhibition Poster
By (after) Fernand Léger
Located in Pasadena, TX
This poster is from the 1956 exhibition. The colors are vibrant and its in it's original from which is period.
Paper
$950
H 22 in W 21 in D 0.75 in
Colorful Geometric Lithograph by Victor Vasarely Signed and Numbered 22" x 21"
By Victor Vasarely
Located in Atlanta, GA
Colorful Geometric Lithograph by Victor Vasarely, France, circa 1960s. This work is pencil signed and numbered 44/250.
Glass, Wood, Paper
Barbara A. Wood Signed and Numbered Lithograph
By Barbara A. Wood
Located in Alpha, NJ
This artwork is an original seriolithograph (serigraph with lithograph) by American artist Barbara A. wood, born 1926. It is hand signed and numbered 145/975 in pencil by the artist....
Paper
Fernand Léger Color Pochoir
By Fernand Léger
Located in Atlanta, GA
Abstract color pochoir after Fernand Léger, signed and numbered 120 from the limited edition of 500 published by the Musee Fernand Leger, Biot, France. The size noted below is the fr...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Sold
H 33.5 in W 26.5 in D 1.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Framed Stamped Signed Fernand Leger Lithograph 2 Lovers 1950s
By Fernand Léger
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a stunning, framed lithograph, entitled "Two Lovers," signed by Fernand Leger, stamped by Biot Musieum, circa 1955, numbered 192/350. In excellent condition...
Paper
Fernand Léger Pochoir
By Fernand Léger
Located in Atlanta, GA
Abstract color pochoir after Fernand Léger, signed and numbered 120 from the limited edition of 500 published by the Musee Fernand Leger, Biot, France. T...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Fernand Leger "La Racine Grise" after Fernand Leger, circa 1953
By Fernand Léger
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fernand Leger (French: Feb 4, 1881-Aug 17, 1955) "La Racine Grise" (The Grey Root) Fernand Leger offset color lithograph with pochoir with faint hand sig...
Gold Leaf
Abstract pochoir print after Fernand Léger
By Fernand Léger
Located in Atlanta, GA
abstract color pochoir after Fernand Léger, a posthumous museum reproduction issued by the Musee Fernand Leger, Biot, France, edition of 300
Other
Original Signed and Numbered 47/180 Lithograph by Fernand Leger
By Mourlot, Fernand Léger
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare limited edition of 47/180, pencil signed lithograph by Fernand Leger, the lithograph by itself without the frame is 19 3/4" X 25 3/4" nice condition, unopened not faded nice col...
Paper
Period Fernand Leger Framed Print
By Fernand Léger
Located in New York, NY
Framed print by Fernand Leger signed "F L. 6. 38". This print has never been removed from the frame (original frame and matte). It was hanging in ...
"Geometric Abstract" Framed Serigraph by Fernand Léger
By Fernand Léger
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Signed in plate and dated '24. Though Fernand Léger built his reputation as a Cubist, his style varied considerably from decade to decade, fluctuating between figuration and abstrac...
Art Deco Lithograph by Fernand Leger "Geometric Cityscape"
By Fernand Léger
Located in New York, NY
This lithograph in colors is from the rare portfolio Derriere le miroir,published in 1955 a few months after the artists death for the exhibition"Homage a Fernand Leger " at the Maeg...
Art Deco Lithograph by Fernand Leger "Les Constructeurs"
By Fernand Léger
Located in New York, NY
This lithograph in colors is from the rare portfolio Derriere le miroir,published in 1955 a few months after the artists death for the exhibition"Homage a Fernand Leger " at the Maeg...
Art Deco Lithograph by Fernand Leger"Woman with Flowers"
By Fernand Léger
Located in New York, NY
This lithograph in colors is from the rare portfolio Derriere le miroir,published in 1955 a few months after the artists death for the exhibition"Homage a Fernand Leger " at the Maeg...
Sold
H 1 in W 14 in D 10.5 in
Rimbaud - Les Illuminations - Lithographs By Fernand Leger - Grosclaude - 1949
By Fernand Léger
Located in Rochester, NY
Rimbaud - Les Illuminations - Lithographies Originales De Fernand Leger - Preface By Henry Miller - Grosclaude - Edition Des Gaules - Lausanne - 1949 - Folio bound loose in the origi...