L'homme à la pipe

December 1919

Marriage to Jeanne Lohy

In December 1919 Léger marries Jeanne-Augustine Lohy; she remains his wife until her death in 1950.

1920

Friendship with Le Corbusier, “The Mechanic” and “The Great Lunch”

In 1920, at the founding of the journal “L'Esprit nouveau”, Léger befriends Le Corbusier, who remains a lifelong friend. In the same year he paints the canvases “The Mechanic” and “The Great Lunch”, and from this year he exhibits at the Indépendants for many years.

1921

Meeting van Doesburg and Mondrian

In 1921 Léger meets van Doesburg and Mondrian.

1921

Gance's “La Roue” and Malraux's “Lunes en papier”

In 1921, together with Blaise Cendrars, Léger works on Abel Gance's film “La Roue” and illustrates André Malraux's book “Lunes en papier”. He is so drawn to cinema that he considers for a time giving up painting for filmmaking.

1922

The death of his mother

In 1922 Léger's mother, Marie Adèle Dunon, dies; she had lived on her farm in Lisores until her death.

1922–1924

Stage and screen: the Swedish Ballet and “L'Inhumaine”

In 1922 Léger designs sets, costumes and the curtain for “Skating Rink” (music by Milhaud) for Rolf de Maré's Swedish Ballet, and in 1923 for the ballet “La Création du monde” (Milhaud, libretto by Cendrars). In 1923–24 he designs the laboratory set for Marcel L'Herbier's film “L'Inhumaine”.