Lithograph By Fernand Léger, Prestige Edition, Versailles, 1970, Arches Vellum

Lithographic print on Arches wove paper, marked on the back "Set design by Fernand Léger for 'Bolivar' (Musée de l'Opéra)," specially printed for the program of the evening hosted by Georges Pompidou for the Ceausescu couple at the Palace of Versailles on June 15, 1970. This limited edition, not for sale, was intended for official guests of the Presidency. These special prints are not numbered. This print depicts a set design model by Fernand Léger for the opera Bolivar. For his famous opera about Simon Bolivar, Darius Milhaud chose Fernand Léger to design the costumes and sets. This opera, in three acts, is based on a ten-act play by Jules Superville dating from 1936, and was unveiled to the public on May 12, 1950. "Bolivar was written in 1943 in the United States. As soon as this project took shape, I took advantage of Fernand Léger's stay in America to discuss this production with him. No one seemed more suitable than him to create the models and sets. Indeed, his robust and wholesome art was not only destined to support this lyrical edifice, but also to give it the air of a popular fresco, which could only intensify its life." Darius Milhaud, L'Opéra de Paris, no. 1, July 1950 (bimonthly publication of the Paris Opera). Dimensions 36.5 x 54 cm. Perfect condition, vibrant colors. Fernand Léger (1881-1955) was a French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker, 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 his experience of the First World War, Léger incorporated themes related to machinery, industry, and modernity into his work. Close to the avant-garde, he participated in numerous collaborative projects, including set designs for theater, ballet, and even films. In the 1920s and 1930s, he moved towards a more figurative, accessible, and socially engaged art. 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 the history of 20th-century art.