Fernand Léger - André Mare Museum
About Fernand Léger - André Mare Museum
The Fernand Léger - André Mare Museum occupies Léger's childhood home in central Argentan, where his mother moved in 1884 after his father's death. Opened in July 2019, this art museum celebrates two major 20th-century artists who were both born in Argentan and became close friends at the local Collège Mézeray. The collection spans over 200 square meters across seven exhibition rooms, featuring paintings, drawings, lithographs, photographs, and decorative arts from both artists. Notable highlights include Léger's rare 1899 watercolor "Cycles X" (one of the few pre-1910 works he didn't destroy), and a full-scale reproduction of his 1950 painting "Les Constructeurs" integrated into the museum wall with actual steel beams. A dedicated room showcases André Mare's pioneering Art Deco work, including decorative objects from his Compagnie des Arts Français. The museum garden has been planted to recreate Léger's 1905 painting "Le Jardin de ma mère." Interactive digital tables and audio devices playing period correspondence enhance the visitor experience. The museum is closed from November to early February.
Interesting Facts
André Mare pioneered military camouflage during World War I, applying cubist principles to hide artillery from enemy observation. He led a unit of French artists assisted by 80,000 workers who painted guns with disruptive color patterns and created hollow armored trees for observation posts. On August 10, 1916, King George V personally decorated Mare with the British Military Cross for this work.
Léger destroyed nearly all of his pre-1910 paintings, making "Cycles X" (1899) displayed here one of the rarest surviving early works. The museum acquired this watercolor through patronage, providing visitors with an exceptional glimpse into the artist's formative years before he developed his distinctive "Tubisme" style.
At the 1912 Salon d'Automne in Paris, André Mare presented "La Maison Cubiste" - a complete cubist interior with colorful wallpaper featuring stylized roses, matching furniture, and carpets. The installation caused such a scandal that it established Mare as a major decorator and became a prototype for the entire Art Deco movement that would dominate the 1920s.
After sharing a studio on rue Saint-Placide in Paris's Montparnasse district in 1904, Léger and Mare took opposite artistic paths: Léger became a pioneer of cubism and abstract painting, while Mare became a leading figure in decorative arts and architecture. Despite these divergent careers, their friendship, rooted in their shared Norman origins, remained strong until Mare's death in 1932 from tuberculosis caused by WWI mustard gas exposure.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
Museum Entry
RecommendedFree entry on the first Sunday of each month. Extended summer hours (June-September) with morning opening.
Location & Practical Info
Address
6 rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, 61200 Argentan, France