?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 20,000 - $ 30,000
LÉGER, FERNAND. Cirque. 63 lithographs by Léger including, 34 printed in colors and 29 in black-and-white, both hors- and in-texte. 425x320 mm; 16 3/4x12 3/4 inches. Title-page and text designed by Léger as well (the text after his manuscript). Folio, contents loose as issued on Arches wove paper; original color lithographed wrappers; plates bright and clean; beige board chemise (joints cracked) and slipcase. Paris: Teriade, 1950
number 152 of 280 copies on velin d'arches signed by léger and the work considered to be his artistic legacy. Saphire 44-106. Léger made this unusual artist's book towards the end of his life. Rather than use reproductions of existing works, he conceived and developed the theme and prints especially for the project. In his images, Léger used spherical shapes and curved lines to explore both circus and rural, natural life, drawing parallels between cyclists in the country (depicting himself) and acrobats performing in the circus. His fluid but steady line, bold, distinct areas of color, and elegant handwriting were well-suited to lithography, the printing of which was conducted by the celebrated Mourlot Frères of Paris.
