In-text plate (folio 23 verso) from La Fin du monde filmée par l'ange de N.-D. (The End of the World Filmed by the Angel of Notre Dame)

The In-text plate (folio 23 verso) from La Fin du monde filmée par l'ange de N.-D. (The End of the World Filmed by the Angel of Notre Dame), created by Fernand Léger in 1919, represents a crucial document in the artist’s engagement with both the mechanical aesthetic and the emerging Livre d’Artiste tradition. As a seminal French illustrated book, it frames Léger’s transition from pre-war Cubism toward the precision of Purism, utilizing bold, abstracted forms to interpret a modern vision of Armageddon captured through the cinematic lens.

The work is executed using the pochoir technique, a labor-intensive stenciling process often favored in high-quality early 20th-century prints for achieving flat, saturated fields of color. This particular plate is drawn from a limited edition volume containing twenty-two pochoirs; six of these, including the one on folio 23 verso, incorporate supplementary line block printing to define structural elements and contours. The pochoir method allowed Léger to apply his signature visual language-defined by geometric shapes, primary colors, and machine-like purity-with unparalleled graphic intensity.

Executed in 1919, the visual dynamism of this piece encapsulates the chaotic energy and technological optimism that defined the immediate post-war era. Léger’s focus on simplified, mechanized components aligns with his belief that the modern artist must reflect the beauty and speed of industrial life. This illustrated book remains a major contribution to the history of the graphic arts. This significant example of French modernism, including its detailed prints, is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).