More information on Le Corbusier's early career as Charles-Edouard
Jeanneret is gradually coming to light but little 18 yet known of him
during his period of transition from being a minor architect in La Chaux-de-Fonds to a major one of great theoretical and practical influence in
Paris. As one might expect he did not make this transition without
considerable personal anguish and it was only because of the help afforded
him by his friends and the influence of hi associates and mentors
that it was made at all. These relationships and influences form the
subject of this study which throws light on various unexpected sides of
Le Corbusier's development. The research is primarily based on his records
of the period, his personal documents including letters he sent to
colleagues, relations and friends; interviews by the writer with his
brother and contemporaries still living in Switzerland and Paris;
together with published material on his life and work, including his
own.
As Le Corbusier did not become generally known by this name until
1925 his given name of Charles-Edouard Jeanneret is used throughout
this thesis.
The thesis has been divided 1ro two parts; the first covers the
formative years of his life in La Chaux-de-Fonds from 1900 until 1917
when he left to live and work in Paris. The roots of many of his later
convictions, activities and abilities lie in this period and the thesis
traces the interconnecting links between, and the development of his four
principal activities namely architecture, painting, writing and business.
The second part pf the thesis covers Le Corbusier's first eight
years in Paris (1917-1925) and examines the process by which he became,
by the end of this period, established as one of the major innovators
of the 'Modern Movement'.In the conclusion the writer draws together the major threads from
the thesis to demonstrate how the transition from Charles-Edouard Jeanneret
to Le Corbusier was achieved.
The events and activities covered by this study have been placed within
the context of the art1tic, economic and social life of the period in so
far as Le Corbusier's development was affected