Léonard Tsuguharu FOUJITA (1886 Tokyo – 1968 ZurichLa Tenancière / The Landlady, 20th century
color lithograph on paper
signed in pencil lower right: L. Foujita
numbered lower left: 56/80
dimensions of the composition/sheet: 30 × 23 cm, 44 × 37.5 cm (with frame)
framed behind glass
The composition depicts an interior scene: two women in the foreground and a figure lying on a bed in the background. Foujita employs a light, sketchy line characteristic of his graphic works—with sparing use of color and a distinct emphasis on linear contours. The subject matter alludes to the world of the boudoir and Parisian high society, which the artist depicted with detachment, elegance, and his characteristic 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.
