L'Inhumaine, 1923
Gouache, ink and pencil on paper
25 x 32.2 cm

Donated by Georges Bauquier, 196
Musée national Fernand Léger Inv. 96001

L'Inhumaine is a black and white film produced by Marcel L'Herbier in 1924. Based on the original script by Pierre Mac Orlan, L'Herbier entrusted the set design to Robert Mallet Stevens, Fernand Léger, Alberto Cavalvcanti and Claude Autant Lara. This unclassifiable film still arouses significant interest for its visual effects. Fernand Léger did this poster sketch as well as the décor of the Cubist laboratory. The title consisting of letters constructed with very simple geometric shapes has been placed on flat shades of grey and black. The same year, Léger shot the first experimental script-less film Le Ballet mécanique, revolving around effects of close-ups, changes in scale and rhythms of moving images depicting objects and faces.