Three Women

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.

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

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.

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.