From Fernand Léger to Pierre Restany: New Realism in the Cold War

In 1960, art critic Pierre Restany founded the New Realism movement, bringing together artists such as Yves Klein, Arman and Jacques Villeglé. While this founding act is well known, the Cold War context that shaped it is less so. Between communism and anti-communism, aesthetics and politics, Fernand Léger became the tutelary figure of the movement.