LEGER FERNAND: (1881-1955) French painter, sculptor and filmmaker. A.L.S., F Leger (and again Fernand Leger beneath), two pages, 4to, n.p., n.d. (c. June 1949), to a gentleman, in French. Leger's letter is written to the foot and verso of a typed letter, unsigned, from A. J. Cauliez, dated at Paris, 18^th June 1949, on the printed stationery of Cineum, in French, asking if Leger would be kind enough to take part in a survey they are conducting in response to the questions 'Y a-t-il une nouvelle avant-garde cinematographique? Dans quels films se manifeste-t-elle?' (Translation: 'Is there a new cinematic avant-garde? In which films does it appear? ) and explaining that they will devote a special issue of their journal to the matter. Leger responds by informing his correspondent that he participated in a similar discussion earlier in the month, explaining 'Je n'ai pu causer que sur l'epoque 1920-32 qui est celle ou le film d'avant garde etait lie a l'evolution parallele epoque cubiste (objets) ballet mecanique, Dada....abstrait les allemande Egelung (?) Richter etc, les surrealistes Bunuel' (Translation: 'I was only able to talk about the period 1920-32, which is when avant-garde film was linked to the parallel evolution of the Cubist period (objects), mechanical ballet, Dada…..German Abstract, Egelung (?) Richter etc, the Surrealists, Bunuel'). Leger also refers to some short films and documentaries, asking 'mais si le que ce sont des films avant garde?' (Translation: 'but what if these are avant-garde films?) and also states 'En ce qui concerne la liaison peinture-film, je ne vois en ce moment que ceux realises en realisation sur la vie et l'oeuvre des artistes de generations precedentes. Le passage au dessin-anime devrait etre la technique' (Translation: 'As far as the painting-film connection is concerned, at the moment I only see those made on the life and work of artists from previous generations. The transition to cartoons should be the new technique'). An interesting text. Some light age wear and a couple of small, neat splits to the edges of folds, G