Rating and value of paintings, drawings and sculptures by Léonard Foujita

If you own a work by the artist Léonard Foujita or based on his work and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will guide you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Thereafter, if you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of the artist

Leonard Foujita's work is common and highly rated on the auction market. His works arouse keen interest among collectors and art lovers, particularly those who appreciate 20th-century painting and drawing. The most sought-after pieces are expressionist paintings. Thus, a work by Foujita can fetch millions of euros at auction, such as his painting La fête d'anniversaire, adjudicated for €6,959,060 in 2012, while it was estimated at between €1,026,750 and €1,483,080.  

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

The artist's style and technique

Foujita was part of the Paris School, a group of foreign artists who emigrated and produced work in Paris.

Most of his works are expressionist, and he produced many prints, as well as drawings and oils on canvas.

Leonard Foujita's life

Leonard Tsugouharu Foujita was a Japanese artist born in Tokyo in 1886. His father was a general and doctor in the Imperial Japanese Army, but his family was particularly open to the Western advances of the time.

He took drawing lessons at an early age, and moved to Paris for three years, having made a commitment to his family to return to marry his fiancée. He discovers Picasso's work thanks to Manuel Ortiz de Zarate and becomes one of the rising figures of the Paris School along with Soutine, Vlaminck, Modigliani and many others. In Paris, he meets Fernande Barrey, also a painter, who will become his first wife.

He has his first solo exhibition at Georges Chéron thanks to funding from François Coty.

Foujita then works with Kiki de Montparnasse, who is partly responsible for his success. His ascent was meteoric, and he found himself in all the French Salons, but also exhibited in the United States, Japan, Belgium and Germany.

He met Lucie Badoud during the Roaring Twenties, who became his muse and second wife. However, she fell in love with Robert Desnos, and the three of them lived together for a while. Foujita didn't like this life, and left Paris following a tax reassessment. He earns a great deal of money, but spends it lavishly, totally unaware of the extent of his success.

He then leaves for Latin America with one of his models, named Madeleine. He finds new inspiration during this trip ; but Madeleine dies suddenly of an overdose in Tokyo some time later. He remained in Japan for some time after this episode to support Japan's imperial cause.

He then moved to New York, protected by Mac Arthur, before returning to Paris for good to complete his career. There he converted to Catholicism, a period his biographers would describe as " mystical appeasement ". During this period, he produced some religious paintings.

Léonard Foujita died of cancer in Zurich in 1968.

Leonard Foujita's imprint on his period

Today, Foujita is recognized as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His japanese, expressionist paintings are highly prized by collectors and are a great success at auction. His unique style, which blends Western influences with Japanese painting techniques, is particularly appreciated and sought-after today. Some of his works are exhibited in museums in France, but private collectors play a major role in preserving his work. His value has been rising in recent years.

His signature

Not all of Léonard Foujita's works are signed. It's also possible that it's a copy or that the mention has faded over time, which is why expertise is paramount.

Expertise your property

If you own a work by Léonard Foujita, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our online form. A member of our team of experts and chartered auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of your work's market value.

If you're considering selling your work, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each work.