1st Anniversary Special Event "Welcome to Tsuguharu Foujita's Home"
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Exhibition Overview
Karuizawa Ando Museum of Art will celebrate its first anniversary in October 2022 as a museum that exclusively houses and exhibits works by Foujita Tsuguharu. Since its opening, the collection has been further expanded since its opening, with new additions such as the masterpiece "Cat's Classroom" (1949) and the rare milky white nude "Nude with Arms Raised" (1924), and is still growing today.
The title of this exhibition, which commemorates the first anniversary of the museum's opening, is "Welcome to the House of Tsuguharu Foujita." Just as the museum's founders, Yasushi Ando and Megumi Ando, have adorned the walls of their home with Foujita's works and cherished them along with their family history, this special exhibition commemorating the first anniversary will allow you to view more than 200 pieces from their collection on an overwhelming scale.
Works to be exhibited for the first time include Self-Portrait with Cat (1926), in which he depicts himself with a cat snuggling up to him; Portrait of a Woman (1932), whose model was Madeleine Lecou, who is said to have had a great influence on Foujita; Exorcism of the Virgin Mary (1952), which gives insight into Foujita's feelings after the war; and Christ of the Cat (1958), an ornamental plate that was displayed in the house in Villiers-le-Bacle, Foujita's final residence.
In addition to tracing Foujita's life from his early years to his later years, the museum will also introduce Foujita's private life in his studio and at home, as well as each era. Over 10 private photographs donated by a relative of his wife Kimiyo will also be on public display for the first time. Please come to the Karuizawa Ando Museum of Art to meet Foujita Tsuguharu.
Introducing the donated belongings of Mr. and Mrs. Fujita
Our museum has received valuable belongings of the Foujitas, including a precious handwritten diary by Tsuguharu Foujita, recorded during the war, from a relative of Kimiyo. We are currently investigating these belongings. In this exhibition, we will be showing for the first time from among these belongings, over 10 photographs that show the private lives of the Foujitas. We will introduce rare images of Foujita relaxing with Kimiyo at their home in Villiers-le-Bacle.
Introducing works exhibited for the first time
This special first anniversary project will feature an overwhelming display of over 200 pieces from our museum collection. We will introduce the main works on display, including some newly added works that will be shown for the first time. Please come and see them at the venue.
*Due to copyright restrictions, some images are posted at a small size of 32,400px or less.
- Self-Portrait with Cat, 1926, collotype on paper
- Throughout his life, Fujita painted a variety of self-portraits, but many of his self-portraits, particularly those painted in the late 1920s, feature a brown tabby cat leaning over him, its chin jutting upwards and one fang showing. As Fujita himself said, "I sometimes draw cats as a sign," cats were the most familiar and intimate presence to him. This Self-Portrait with a Cat, newly added to our museum collection, also conveys the loving relationship between the man and the cat.
Exhibition room: Exhibition room 2 (Green room)
- "Woman's Figure" 1932 Watercolor, ink on paper
- Madeleine Lecou appears in many of Fujita's works as a model. In October 1931, Fujita traveled to Central and South America with Madeleine, whom he had just met. This work was painted during the trip, and exquisitely expresses the loveliness and beauty of Madeleine, who was 25 years old at the time. You can feel the warm gaze of Fujita as he looks at Madeleine.
Exhibit room: Exhibit room 3 (yellow room)
- Exorcising the Demon, Spirit Movement, 1952, oil on glass
- After the war, Foujita, who was tossed about by the issue of war responsibility, decided to leave Japan and returned to France in 1950. This work was created two years later in 1952. It shows Foujita, who had traveled to Paris tormented by "gossip," "teasing," and "jealousy," kneeling and looking up to the sky, begging "Give me strength," as he found himself with "no money," "no studio," and "no honor." It is a valuable work that gives us an insight into Foujita's feelings at the time.
Exhibition Room: Exhibition Room 4 (Blue Room)
- "Cat Christ" 1958 Ceramic (Madura Workshop)
- This work is a ceramic decorative plate that was displayed in the house in Villiers-le-Bacle where Fujita spent the last eight years of his life. The wirework for the wall hanging is also thought to have been done by Fujita himself at the time. The back of the work is also stamped with the name of the Madoura workshop, which was famous for exclusively producing Picasso's ceramic works.
Exhibition room: Attic exhibition room
