The Life of Fernand Léger The story of Fernand Léger begins in the village of Argentan, located in the Orne region of Lower Normandy. He arrived into this world on February 4, 1881, as an only son. His early years were shaped by the quietude of the French countryside and the presence of his mother, Marie-Adèle Daunou. His father, a man who made his living as a cattle dealer, passed away when Fernand was still a young boy, leaving the child to be raised by his mother in a household marked by her piety and a certain self-effacing nature. This upbringing in the rural landscapes of Normandy pro…