"House with balcony", Fernand Léger (1881-1955)

Fernand Léger (1881-1955) was a French painter, sculptor and filmmaker, and a major figure in modern art. Born in Normandy, he began his career influenced by Impressionism, before turning to Cubism, which he reinterpreted with a more geometric and colorful personal style. Marked by the experience of the First World War, Léger was led to integrate themes linked to machines, industry and modernity into his work. Close to the avant-garde, he took part in numerous collective projects, including theater, ballet and even film sets. In the 1920s and 1930s, he moved towards a more figurative, accessible and committed style. He taught in the United States during the Second World War, before returning to France. His prolific and influential work marks a turning point in twentieth-century art history.
"House with balcony
Watercolor and India ink on paper.
Set design for the Bolivar opera.
Signed on the back, and inscribed "19, Bolivar".
With certificate of authenticity.
1949.
The opera Bolivar, written in the United States around 1943 by Darius Milhaud, was inspired by the legendary hero Simon Bolivar, nicknamed "El Libertador", who emancipated the peoples of Latin America from the yoke of Spanish colonization. Milhaud immediately turned to Léger to illustrate Jules Supervielle's libretto and design the models and sets, in a popular and lyrical style. The sets were created by Maurice Moulène, who kept the unnumbered sketches that were not used in the final staging.
Dimensions
H: 26 cm; W: 19.5 cm sighted (unframed)
H: 38 cm; W: 31.5 cm (with frame)

Ref: 0C45A4LT50