Born in Argentan in northwestern France

Serves as apprentice to an architect in Caen, France

Moves to Paris and works as architectural draftsman

Takes a studio at La Ruche (French for “the beehive”), an art-studio complex in Paris, where he befriends artists such as Robert Delaunay and Jacques Lipchitz, and the writer Blaise Cendrars

Moves to a studio in another part of Paris, where he paints Smoke over Rooftops

Serves in World War I

Paints The City

Illustrates The End of the World (La fin du monde), a book written by Blaise Cendrars

Designs curtains, stage sets, and costumes for Skating Rink, a production by Ballet suédois

Designs sets and costumes for Creation of the World for Ballet suédois

Paints The Large Tugboat

Collaborates with other artists to produce his only film, Mechanical Ballet (Ballet mécanique)

Visits several cities in Italy, including Venice, with his art dealer; paints Animated Landscape after returning to France

Starts an art school in Paris with several other artists

Makes first trip to the United States

Makes second trip to the United States

Makes third trip to the United States; creates studies for cinematic mural to be installed in the lobby of Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan

Lives in New York City during World War II

Works and resides in France

Dies in Gif-sur-Yvette, France

Musée National Fernand Léger opens in Biot, France