Fernand Léger

Fernand Léger (1881–1955), one of the twentieth-century’s most important classic artists, was a great mediator: in his enthusiasm for the cool, mechanical side of modernity, he understood how to lend form to the emerging artistic style, which was also particularly appealing to an American audience. This richly illustrated publication covers the artist’s entire oeuvre—from the early, Cubist-influenced work to the cheerful, large-format canvases he painted later in his career. Special attention is given to the American dimension of Léger’s work. The artist visited the US on several occasions, where between 1940 and 1945 he lived in exile in New York. He was deeply impressed by this vast country—by its architecture, dynamics, and modernity—and he consequently created some of his most important works there. Furthermore, this volume traces his remarkable influence on twentieth-century American artists, primarily on Roy Lichtenstein and Ellsworth Kelly, but also on others, such as Robert Rauschenberg, Al Held, Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist, Frank Stella, and Andy Warhol.(German edition ISBN 978-3-7757-2160-8) Exhibition schedule: Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basel, June 1–September 7, 2008