On August 6, 1913, a mischievous 27-year-old Japanese boy named Tsuguharu Foujita arrived in Paris with the farcical ambition of becoming the first painter of the City of Light. Introduced to the arts and sciences by his father, an open-minded general, Foujita, too old for the Beaux-Arts, became a copyist at the Louvre, mischievously exploring ancient art.

In Montparnasse, he absorbed the artistic atmosphere, subtly interweaving cultural hybridization. Aware of the modern mechanisms of celebrity, he adopted a mischievous dandy image with his famous "dog" haircut. Married to artist Fernande Barrey, he exhibited successfully in 1917, attracting the attention of Picasso.

The 1920s saw Foujita, a nocturnal prankster, charm Lucie Badoud at La Rotonde in 1922, mischievously calling her "Youki". She became his favorite model, inspiring his nudes. His unique black-and-white oil style set him apart. He became a figure of Montparnasse, but his dandy image took over his painting.

In 1931, the crisis drove him to Rio de Janeiro with Madeleine Lequeux. Two years in Latin America revived his playful art. Returning to Japan, he became a war painter, but the farcical call of France was stronger. He returned to Paris in 1950, relaunching his career. In 1968, in Zurich, Foujita, the joker, died at the age of 81, under the first name Leonardo, a mischievous homage to Leonardo da Vinci. His artistic legacy, a blend of hybridization, mystery and audacity, left its mark on the history of art.

Foujita in auction

Foujita's paintings, often depicting children, young women and cats, range from €40,000 to €180,000, or even more for pieces linked to a particular history or collection.

Works on paper, produced using a variety of techniques, offer preliminary studies. Some exceptional drawings can fetch up to €80,000, while the general value of a drawing ranges from €4,000 to €15,000.

Prints depict children, nude women, cats or mythological scenes. Prints are of remarkable quality, with an average estimate of 400 to 800 euros.

Foujita's photographs, mainly of cats, are valued at between 500 and 1,200 euros.

Foujita's lesser-known sculptures and objects, bas-reliefs on glass or wood, fetch between 600 and 30,000 euros at auction.

How do I know the value of a Foujita work?

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