Le Cirque.

1950. LÉGER, Fernand. Le Cirque. Illustrated with 75 lithographs by Léger, of which 33 are printed in colour and 42 in black (unsigned). Folio, 440 x 340, bound in original illustrated wrappers, in the publisher's box and matching chemise. Paris: Tériade, 1950. One of the great livres des peintres of the twentieth century. "Cirque is Leger's master graphic work, a compendium of 34 color lithographs and 29 in black- almost half his [total graphic] output. The text is Léger's own and his themes are the circus and the countryside; from these touchstones of his inspiration Léger extracts the principles of his art and his life. There can be no doubt that Cirque stands as his testament" (Saphire p. 98). Only a few of Léger's images in this wonderful volume found their way into his painted compositions, however, two primary exceptions exist: and they happen to be two of Léger's finest paintings from his late period: La Grande Parade, 1954, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Collection and Homage à Louis David, 1949, at the Centre Georges Pompidou. Limited edition of 300 copies on Arches wove paper, including 20 hors commerce. Signed by Léger in ink on the colophon. Box a little toned and worn, a fine copy. The Artist and The Book 164. Saphire, Fernand Leger, The Complete Graphic Work #s 44-106. Rauch no. 195. Stern no. 60. Klipstein and Kornfeld, Tériade no. 40. Cooper, Fernand Léger 164. Castleman, A Century of Artists Books 95. (Inventory #: 166646)