Putting a new spin on one of his favorite subjects, Léger here depicts tree trunks and logs as objects in space rather than related to the ground. The gnarled branches form an abstract still-life composition, twisting and turning in unanticipated directions. The earthy grey-blues, sienna reds, and light yellows contrast with the bold black outlines. At the center of the composition, branches take on a new form- one that hints at curled and crumpled paper. By suggesting the presence of paper amidst tree branches, Léger depicts logs both in their natural and man-made forms and shows the versatility of the material nature of his subject matter.
Created in c. 1955, this work was printed on watermarked Arches Script wove paper by Mourlot, Paris and published by Galerie Louise Leiris, Paris. Hand signed by Fernand Léger (Argentan, 1881- Gif-sur-Yvette, 1955) in ink in the lower right margin and numbered 50/75 (from the total edition of 75) in pencil in the lower left margin.
