Chapter title (folio 7) from La Fin du monde filmée par l'ange de N.-D. (The End of the World Filmed by the Angel of Notre Dame)

Chapter title (folio 7) from La Fin du monde filmée par l'ange de N.-D. (The End of the World Filmed by the Angel of Notre Dame) by Fernand Léger is a significant example of early modernist illustrated books, classified as a livre d'artiste. Created in 1919, the piece utilizes the medium of pochoir, a highly refined stencil technique that allows for the application of dense, vibrant color and clean, precise edges. This technique was frequently adopted by the French avant-garde for its suitability in producing high-quality graphic works and prints.

This specific folio is one of twenty-two pochoirs included in the complete book, some of which integrate line block elements. The work was published at a pivotal moment in Léger’s career, immediately following World War I, when his artistic focus shifted dramatically toward the visual language of industry and the machine aesthetic. Léger, having witnessed the mechanisms of mechanized conflict, channeled this experience into a distinctive style of Purism, utilizing hard-edged forms, cylinders, and geometric planes.

The year 1919 marks Léger's deeper engagement with architectural and mechanistic themes, contrasting sharp color blocks with precise linear structures. The composition reflects the artist’s interest in mass production and the energy of the modern city, translating this dynamism into a powerful graphic design. The artist’s collaboration on this project—including providing his own text—demonstrates the central role that multimedia books played in disseminating new artistic ideas throughout the French cultural sphere.

This influential illustrated book resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York. The preservation of these graphic works ensures access to the foundational elements of European modernism. Léger’s use of the pochoir method during this period cemented his reputation not only as a leading painter but also as a master of graphic media.