Léonard Tsuguharu FOUJITA (1886 Tokyo – 1968 ZurichProstitutes, 1963
color lithograph on paper
signed in pencil lower right: L. Foujita
marked lower left: E.A. — épreuve d’artiste, artist’s proof
dimensions of the composition/sheet: 30.5 × 22.5 cm, 40.5 × 30 cm (with frame)
mounted behind glass
The composition depicts a boudoir-cabaret scene featuring four female figures and a table with champagne. The work reflects Foujita’s characteristic approach to figure construction: delicate contours, an understated color palette, and a fusion of European themes with a linear sensibility close to the Japanese tradition. Foujita, a Japanese-French painter and printmaker, was associated with Paris and the École de Paris circle from 1913 onward; he is particularly renowned for his depictions of women, nudes, children, cats, and scenes characterized by a subtle, decorative style.
Tsuguharu Foujita (1886, Tokyo – 1968, Zurich) – a Japanese-French painter, printmaker, and illustrator, one of the most important representatives of the École de Paris. After graduating from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, he moved to France, where he gained international recognition for his unique style combining Japanese line and European form. He was known for his portraits of women, scenes featuring cats, and subtle nudes with pearly complexions. He was friends with Modigliani, Soutine, and Kisling. After World War II, he returned to Japan and later settled in France, where he was baptized and took the name Léonard. He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor. His works are found in the world’s most important collections, including the Centre Pompidou, MoMA, the Tate, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo.
