Composition à la statuette

Composition à la statuette is a rare tapestry after Fernand Léger, woven at the Gisèle Brivet workshop in Aubusson. As an artist’s proof, the work holds a particular importance within the edition, representing a primary and highly resolved translation of Léger’s design into textile.

The composition reflects Léger’s early commitment to abstraction. Rather than relying on narrative or recognizable subject matter, the image is constructed through an arrangement of geometric forms—circular elements, intersecting lines, and angled planes that overlap across the surface. The result is a composition that feels structured and deliberate, with each element contributing to a sense of balance and spatial tension.

Color operates independently from line, a defining aspect of Léger’s approach. Strong bands of red, blue, yellow, and black are placed with precision, sometimes aligning with the forms and at other times moving across them. This creates a layered effect, where the eye shifts between structure and surface without settling into a single reading.

The tapestry medium introduces a subtle shift in how the composition is experienced. The wool softens the edges slightly, allowing transitions between colors to feel more integrated while preserving the clarity of the original design. This balance between precision and material presence gives the work a distinctive visual weight.

Woven with Léger’s signature and bearing the monogram of Gisèle Brivet, Composition à la statuette stands as a refined example of early modernist design translated into tapestry. Direct and controlled, it reflects a moment where abstraction is treated not as decoration, but as structure.