Cirque

細節

Fernand Léger (1881-1955)
Cirque
signed with the initials, dated and titled 'Cirque 1950 F.L' (lower right)
watercolour, brush and ink on paper
16 5/8 x 12½ in. (42.1 x 31.6 cm.)
Executed in 1950

來源

Tériade (Efstratios Elftheriades), Paris, a gift from the artist in 1950.
Dr Shapiro, New York.
Acquired from the above by the present owner.

注意事項

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

拍品專文

This gouache is a study associated with the illustrated book Cirque, Léger's master graphic work, which Tériade published in 1950 and whose contents represented a large part of Léger's print output. The manuscript lithographic text by the artist as well as the illustrations combine and interwine the shapes and colours of the world of circus in a glorious celebration of freedom.
The present sitter, with her accessories - the wheel of a bicycle, a hair bow and pearl necklace - can be identified as La Grande Julie, a cyclist or possibly a performer at a circus, whom Léger painted in 1945 (Bauquier, nos. 1187 & 1188) and who appears also in the Cirque lithographs. Julie evoques Léger's social conscience and political commitment. She refers in particular to the pleasure of cycling through France during the newly acquired congés payés (paid holidays), which were granted in France by law in 1936 and were a great victory for the workers.