Letter from Fernand Léger, Paris, to Paul Rosenberg, 1939 December 14 : autograph manuscript signed.

He received Rosenberg's letter and knew he was somewhere near where he actually is. Everyone who has been able to leave Paris has done so. He spent 3 months in Normandy and then returned to Paris to work. Paris is like a provincial town now, everything slowed down, like it must have been in 1900. The [Académie des] Beaux-Arts has sent his paintings to other parts of France, along with the Mona Lisa. He says that now Mona Lisa can be interviewed about modern art. He sees that Rosenberg is still busy working. There are always things to organize. However, the worldwide character of the war and its unpredictable length has put everyone in an unknown and dangerous situation. It's just the start, and he's afraid that art is going to become a very low priority. There will be no neutrality in 6 months' time. Everyone will be involved. He says that America is re-emerging, gathering up all the world's money. Soon one will see American hotel clerks writing with millionaires' pens, like in 1925, unless the dollar gets into trouble. He wonders how in just a few months, there will still be nations that call themselves neutral [like the U.S. at this time]. It's scandalous. They'll have to make up their minds. It looks as though the game is turning toward countries that have money and those that don't--a new aspect of the war. He's just observing for now. He's working on large figurative paintings and is preparing a ballet for [Serge] Lifar. He's reading as few newspapers as possible.