A major artwork by renowned French artist Fernand Léger will be displayed at the Clock Library in Cergy, bringing prestigious art from the Centre Pompidou directly to the local community. The painting "Les deux femmes debout" (Two Standing Women), created in 1922, will be exhibited on November 12 as part of a free event designed to make art accessible to everyone.
The masterpiece from the Centre Pompidou's collection will be presented on the ground floor of the Saint-Christophe district library, making it visible even from Rue de l'Abondance. This strategic placement ensures maximum visibility for passersby and demonstrates the commitment to bringing art to the people rather than requiring them to travel to traditional museum spaces.
Fernand Léger developed a distinctive artistic style influenced by masters including Cézanne, Picasso, Braque, Robert Delaunay, and Marc Chagall. His work is characterized by a unique blend of geometric forms and vibrant colors. After World War I, Léger returned to focusing on human figures, creating iconic series such as "Two Standing Women" in 1922. Throughout his career, his artwork continuously explored the delicate balance between lines, forms, and colors.
This exhibition in Cergy is part of the "One Day, One Artwork" program that the Centre Pompidou has been implementing across the Île-de-France region for the past decade. The initiative aims to showcase art outside traditional museum settings, bringing cultural experiences directly to communities that might not otherwise have access to such prestigious collections.
The event represents a preview of an unprecedented partnership that the City of Cergy has recently established with the Louvre Museum and the Île-de-France regional prefecture. Over the next three years, Cergy will host "The Louvre at Your Place" program, designed to bring works from the famous Parisian museum to Cergy residents who are geographically distant from such cultural institutions. Approximately one hundred reproductions will be distributed throughout the city, with special focus on priority neighborhoods including Axe-Majeur-Horloge, Linandes, and Bontemps-Terroir. Iconic masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, The Wedding at Cana, and Liberty Leading the People will be displayed at the foot of residential buildings.
The cultural initiative extends beyond simple exhibitions to include a comprehensive program of activities, workshops, and interactive games. Experienced mediators from the Louvre will work alongside locally recruited ambassadors to define the scope of this cultural dissemination through approximately thirty projects. These programs will primarily target young people aged 16 to 30 who face integration challenges, providing them with cultural opportunities and educational experiences.
Visitors can access the artwork freely in the exhibition space from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. A creative workshop centered around the painting will take place at 3 p.m., with registration available online at www.cergy.fr. At 4 p.m., art historian Ariane Coulondre, a curator from the Centre Pompidou, will present a conference about the artwork, also requiring online registration through the same website. The entire event will take place on Wednesday, November 12, from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Clock Library located at 49 Rue de l'Abondance, with free admission open to all members of the public.
