The Viaduct ( Le Viaduc )

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.

1922–1924

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”.

1924

Through Italy with Rosenberg: Ravenna

In 1924 Léger travels through Italy with Rosenberg and is enraptured by Ravenna. In the same year he gives a lecture at the Sorbonne.

1924

A free academy with Ozenfant, and the pupil Nadia Khodossevitch

In 1924 Léger, with Amédée Ozenfant, Marie Laurencin and Alexandra Exter, sets up the Académie Moderne, a free school where he teaches. Among its students from 1924 is Nadia Khodossevitch, a cousin of the poet, later Léger's assistant and wife; other accounts place the opening of a “Modern Academy” with Ozenfant in 1929.