ART & ARTISTS: Fernand Léger part 4 – ‘Cirque’ lithographs (1)

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Fernand Léger part 4 – ‘Cirque’ lithographs (1)

This is part 4 of a 5-part post on the works of french artist Fernand Léger (1881-1955). For biographical notes on Léger see part 1. Parts 4 and 5 take a look at a selection of images from Léger's portfolio of lithographs "Cirque."

"Cirque," published by Verve in 1950, is Léger’s lithographic masterpiece. After Rouault’s "Divertissement" in 1943 and Matisse’s "Jazz" in 1947, although before Chagall’s "Cirque" in 1967, this was the third book on the subject commissioned by Tériade. The latter was of Greek origin and worked as an art critic in Paris, indeed, he wrote the second-ever monograph on Léger in 1928. He founded Verve and became one of the major art publishers of the 20th century. On his return from exile in America in 1945, the painter accepted Tériade’s commission. As he felt that the novella which Henry Miller had initially been asked to write was too dark, he wrote the text himself. There were 300 copies of the 113-page book printed by the famous Parisian lithographers Mourlot Frères. The spoken tone of the manuscript alternates with colourful gouaches and black ink drawings. Léger recycles some of his previous writings and applies his aesthetic of contrasts - which is itself worthy of a cinematographic montage - to the images.

“We are experiencing space more than ever before. Man is growing and expanding in all directions; there's a competition to escape and leave behind all earthly constraints, to flee what is solid and concrete. A nervous mobility is taking over the world. Everything is moving and escaping from traditional constraints. Being a painter and feeling so totally unable to resolve this spectacle on a canvas.” Fernand Léger, Cirque, Éditions Verve, 1950