Outline

Léonard Foujita (1886 – 1968, born Tsuguharu Fujita) may be considered the most successful Japanese artist in the history of European modern art in the 20th century, having moved from Japan to France and quickly risen to stardom in the Paris art scene in the era between the two World Wars with his unique style of painting recognized for its “milk-white” backgrounds.

Although he would apply his artistic talent to a variety of subjects and genres, surely Foujita’s most important work is found in his paintings of the human figure and portraiture. As have other artists, Foujita used professional models to study the intricacies of pose and he received requests for portraits from prominent figures in society and its wealthy bourgeoisie, but at other times it was family members or close friends that appeared in his paintings. When we look back at the “models” appearing in Foujita’s paintings along with their profiles, the circumstances leading up to the painting and the episodes involved, we find the emergence of two underlying elements, the environment of personal relationships surrounding the artist in his life and the artistic issues involved in taking the human being as a subject for painting.

In this exhibition, we present about 90 works spanning the artist’s earliest to his latest years and some 150 items of reference concerning the models that appear in them with the hope of exploring Foujita’s artistic ideas and the ways he viewed his models. Also, with special cooperation from the French department of Essonne, we are privileged to display four murals of group of figures that can be considered a culmination of Foujita’s artistic study concerning the use of models.

Lectures and Gallery Talks

Lectures (in Japanese)

Saturday, October 15 13:30－15:00
Kumiko Harada (Curator, Masakichi Hirano Art Foundation)
“Tsuguharu Fujita and Akita – About the Museum for the repose of Madleine’s soul” 

Saturday, November 26 13:30－15:000
Yukihiro Sato (Art historian, supervisor to this exhibition)
“Foujita and Nudes – From milk-white nudes to group compositions”

For both lectures, no reservations needed | Limited to first 50 people | Held at lecture room (open 13:00) | Free of charge Museum admission stub required
 

Gallery Talks by the Curator (in Japanese)

Saturday September 17, Saturday November 12, Saturday December 10

The curator Yukiko Yokoyama talks about the exhibition in the galleries.
No reservations needed | Gather at the Entrance Hall 14:00 ｜Limited to first 60 people｜Museum admission stub required
 

Guided Tours (in Japanese)

Daily except on days of lectures and curator gallery talks.

No reservations needed | Gather at the Entrance Hall 14:00｜Limited to first 60 people｜Museum admission stub required

Workshop

“Rest Time” (conducted in Japanese)

Guides:
Ine Izumi (Artist/Painter),
Megumi Kamimura (Choreographer/Dancer), 
Tatsuo Majima (Artist)

Reservations required | limited to first 15 applicants | participation fee: 3,000yen (for both sessions, includes Museum admission)

*Participants are requested to attend “Rest Time A” session without fail, “Rest Time B” participation is optional.

The body rests. The consciousness rests. The paintings rest. The words rest. The Museum rests. The world rests. Your self rests.
We invite people who want to spend free/rest time at the Museum. 
All of the participants will exchange ideas/opinions, think about how to be free to rest, and all will rest.

■Rest Time A [In the Museum with the lights out]

Monday, November 21 (Museum closed day) 12:00－16:00

On a Museum closed day, the lights are out in the Museum. It is a quiet interior dimly lighted with natural light from outside. Lying on the floors, you can roll around. You can walk about freely. You can talk, and sing if you want. Come join us if you would like to try resting in an environment like this.

■Rest Time B [In the Museum as usual]

Saturday, December 10 13:00－15:00

It is a day when the Museum is open. The lights are on and there are museum visitors in the galleries as usual. There are also explanations of the artworks by the curators. You can lie down on the floor by the artworks. You can walk about freely. You can talk quietly if you want. Come join us if you would like to try resting in an environment like this.