In-text plate (folio 26) from La Fin du monde filmée par l'ange de N.-D. (The End of the World Filmed by the Angel of Notre Dame)

In-text plate (folio 26) 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 twentieth-century illustrated book design. Created in 1919, the image is one of twenty-two pochoirs included in the avant-garde publication, a technique often favored by French artists of the time for its vibrant color saturation and graphic impact. This specific work utilizes both the pochoir (stencil) process and line block printing, demonstrating Léger's engagement with mechanical reproduction processes characteristic of the immediate post-war period.

Léger’s work during this period was deeply influenced by the dynamism of modern urban life and the emerging machine aesthetic. While the title, La Fin du monde filmée par l'ange de N.-D., suggests apocalyptic or narrative themes, the imagery translates these concepts through highly stylized, mechanical forms and abstracted compositions. Léger employed clean lines and flat planes of color, reflecting a move away from analytical Cubism toward the streamlined efficiency of Purism. This strong visual language was ideally suited for the pochoir process, allowing for the precise application of color that contributes to the illustration’s graphic power.

As an illustrated book, the publication reflects the cross-disciplinary approach prevalent in Parisian Modernism. The 1919 date places the work at a pivotal moment in Léger’s transition toward his mature style, incorporating industrial and cinematic elements into his printed works. The work is particularly valued in the study of early Modernist graphics and book arts. Examples of these influential French prints are preserved within the comprehensive collection of the Museum of Modern Art, highlighting the pivotal role of this piece in the history of graphic design and the artist book classification.