Fernand Léger, La Racine Grise (The Gray Root), c. 1953

Artist: Fernand Léger (1881 - 1955)
Title:La Racine Grise (The Gray Root), c. 1953
Medium:Color Lithograph
Image Size:19 1/4 in x 25 1/4 in (49 cm x 64 cm)
Sheet Size:25 1/4 in x 35 1/2 in (64.1 cm x 90.2 cm)
Framed Size:37 1/8 x 42 3/4 (94.2 cm x 108.5 cm)
Edition:Numbered 125/250 in pencil in the lower left margin with the embossed blindstamp of publisher, Guy Spitzer in the lower right.
Signature:This work is hand-signed by Fernand Leger (Argentan, 1881- Gif-sur-Yvette,1955) in ink in the lower right margin. Also signed ’45 | F. Leger’ in the stone in black in the lower right.
Condition:This work is in excellent condition.
ID #w-4826

Historical Description

Fernand Léger La Racine Grise (The Gray Root), c. 1953 closely resembles a painting created by Léger in 1941 entitled Racine. In this particular work, the large overlapping forms give the composition weight and unify the separate images. Léger’s use of color further energizes the piece by creating strong verticals, horizontals and diagonals. While one may attempt to assign meaning to the different planes of color, Léger avoids complete definition. The organic quality of the forms also adds a sense of movement to the work.

Created c. 1953, this color lithograph is hand signed by Fernand Léger (Argentan, 1881- Gif-sur-Yvette,1955) in ink in the lower right margin and in the stone in black in the lower right of the image. This work is numbered from the edition of 250 in the lower left and is printed on Arches wove paper. Published by Editions Guy Spitzer, Paris, the publisher’s blindstamp appears on the bottom right above Léger’s printed signature and Spitzer’s ink stamp appears on the reverse side of this work.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Fernand Léger La Racine Grise (The Gray Root), c. 1953 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work).

1. Spitzer, Guy. Éditions Guy Spitzer, Reproductions de Tableaux de Maitres, Paris. Illustrated and detailed on pg. 19.
2.  Saphire, Lawrence. Fernand Leger,The Complete Graphic Work. 1978. Illustrated and detailed as cat no E 21 on pgs 290 and 291.
3. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About The Framing:
Fernand Léger La Racine Grise (The Gray Root), c. 1953 is framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, presented in a complimentary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.

Subject Matter: Under $15k