LEONARD TSUGUHARU FOUJITA

Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita was a Japanese-French painter who achieved fame in Paris between the world wars, known for his unique portraits of figures and cats.

Léonard Foujita studied Western art from the 1910s at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, with the intention of going to Paris after completing his studies. He arrived in the French capital in 1913, where he met Pablo Picasso and discovered his work. A visit to the master's studio was a shock and the beginning of a dazzling career.

Léonard Foujita immediately became one of the leading representatives of the School of Paris, along with Amedeo Modigliani, Chaïm Soutine, Chana Orloff, and Juan Gris. He achieved a triumph in the mid-1920s, which is reflected in his painting, celebrating the figures of the Montparnasse district and the art of living of this young generation of artists.

The 1950s saw a significant calming of his painting and his conversion to Catholicism. Fascinated by religious art, particularly from the 15th century, he undertook monumental works at this time, such as the Foujita Chapel in Reims inspired by Giotto, one of his last works.