Face and Hands

1950

The death of his wife Jeanne

In 1950 Léger's first wife, Jeanne-Augustine Lohy, whom he had married in 1919, dies.

1951

The first polychrome sculptures

In 1951 Léger exhibits his first polychrome sculptures at the Galerie Leiris and a large composition at the Triennale in Milan.

1952

The 26th Venice Biennale

In 1952 Léger takes part in the 26th Venice Biennale. In April he has an exhibition and gives a lecture at the Kunsthalle in Bern, and there are exhibitions at Paris galleries and at Sidney Janis's gallery in New York.

21 February 1952

Marriage to Nadia Khodossevitch and a home in Gif-sur-Yvette

On 21 February 1952 Léger marries Nadia Khodossevitch, a cousin of the poet, who had been a student of his Academy since 1924 and later its assistant. They settle in the Gros-Tilleul quarter of Gif-sur-Yvette.

1953

A touring exhibition in Japan

In 1953 an exhibition of Léger's work tours Japan; his work is also shown at the Gallery of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago and in San Francisco, and an exhibition of coloured sculptures is held at the Louis Carré gallery.

1953

Illustrations for Éluard's “Liberté”

In 1953 Léger illustrates Éluard's poem “Liberté” and gives a lecture in Brussels, “Modern Painting”.