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April 27, 2018
Foujita Tsuguharu, 50 years after his passing. A major retrospective exhibition surveying the entirety of his artistic achievements | ART
Foujita Tsuguharu, 50 Years After His Passing: A Major Retrospective Exhibition Surveying the Entirety of His Artistic Achievements | ART
The Works of Foujita Tsuguharu, the Most Widely Known Japanese Painter in France
Over 100 Works Exhibited: "Foujita Tsuguharu: 50 Years After His Passing"
Born in 1886 and passing in 1968, Foujita Tsuguharu (also known as Leonard Foujita) spent nearly half of his eighty-plus years living in France, eventually acquiring French citizenship in his later years. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of his passing in 2018, a major retrospective exhibition, "Foujita Tsuguharu: 50 Years After His Passing," will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum from July 31 (Tuesday) to October 8 (Monday, holiday), 2018, offering a comprehensive survey of his artistic career.
Text by OZAKI Sayaka
A Grand Retrospective Featuring Masterpieces and Works Making Their First Appearance in Japan
Foujita Tsuguharu (Leonard Foujita, 1886–1968) was a celebrated figure of the École de Paris, also known for his war record paintings during the Pacific War. As 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of his death, a major retrospective exhibition, organized with the cooperation of leading museums in Europe and America, particularly in France, will present a comprehensive overview of his artistic achievements.
This exhibition brings together approximately 20 representative works from major Western museums, including the Centre Pompidou, Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Petit Palais in Geneva, and the Art Institute of Chicago, some of which are being shown in Japan for the first time. Additionally, over ten nudes, rendered in Foujita's signature "milky white ground" technique, will be displayed together.
Upon his debut as an artist in Paris in the 1920s, Foujita established his unique style characterized by a milky white base and fine, dark outlines. He primarily depicted nudes, a subject that best showcased the delicate whiteness and texture of his distinctive ground. His works garnered significant acclaim and fame at the Paris Salon.
The exhibition is organized thematically, exploring "Landscapes," "Portraits," "Nudes," and "Religious Paintings," offering a fresh perspective on Foujita's art while prioritizing the works themselves. With pieces making their Japanese debut and others rarely exhibited before, this exhibition promises a wealth of highlights.
Foujita Tsuguharu, Nude with Tapestry, 1923, Oil on canvas, Collection of The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
© Fondation Foujita / ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2017 E2833
Foujita Tsuguharu, Self-Portrait, 1929, Oil on canvas, Collection of The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
© Fondation Foujita / ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2017 E2833
Foujita Tsuguharu, Cat, 1940, Oil on canvas, Collection of The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
© Fondation Foujita / ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2017 E2833
Foujita Tsuguharu: 50 Years After His Passing Exhibition
Dates | July 31 (Tuesday) – October 8 (Monday, holiday), 2018
Venue | Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Address | 8-36 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Opening Hours | 9:30 – 17:30
*Fridays: 9:30 – 20:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
*However, on Friday, August 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, hours will be 9:30 – 21:00
Closed | Mondays, Tuesday, September 18, Tuesday, September 25
*However, the museum will be open on Monday, August 13, Monday (holiday), September 17, Monday (holiday), September 24, Monday, October 1, and Monday (holiday), October 8.
Organizers | Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture), The Asahi Shimbun, NHK, NHK Promotions
Sponsorship | Embassy of France in Japan / Institut Français du Japon
Support | Sompo Japan Nipponkoa, Dai Nippon Printing
Special Cooperation | The Japan Foundation
Cooperation | The Tokyo Bijutsu Club, Japan Airlines