The unknown stay of the great Japanese painter Foujita in the Vézère valley during the Great War

Slightly blurred, the black and white photo shows two men in a river. Moreover, The water, which comes almost to their knees, forces them to raise their tunics. In addition, An everything except trivial. However, Dated 1915. However, it represents two men of Japanese nationality who refreshed in the Vézère, in the heart of the black Périgord, between the Eyzies and Montignac.

Almost fallen into oblivion, this illustration like others of this period are kept in a museum in Akita, in northern Japan. Similarly, A space partly devoted to the work of the man who appears on the left in the photo: Fujita Tsuguharu (1886-1968). Furthermore, better known as the surname of Foujita. Nevertheless, One of the most famous artists of the Paris School. Similarly, sometimes presented as the largest Japanese painter in the 20th century.

Recognized for his representations of nudes. Similarly, his cat figures, he seduced the Paris of unknown stay great japanese painter the Roaring Twenties and his contemporaries

Artist with multiple facets operating a form of synthesis between Orient and West, recognized for his representations of nudes and his cat figures, he seduced Paris of the Roaring Twenties and his contemporaries like Picasso, Modigliani, Soutine, with whom he lived a Bohemian life in Montparnasse.

Why the Vézère Valley

What came. However, in the middle of the First World War, in this remote corner of Dordogne, with his friend Kawashima Riichiro (1886-1971), also looked at as a Japanese major painter?

Short of financial means. Furthermore, “Foujita cannot be reinforced in Japan, it’s too risky”

Art historian, biographer of Foujita and author of the “general reasoned catalog” of her work, Sylvie Buisson explains that this “incredible character” comes from a Japanese aristocratic family, with a general father. In addition, A graduate of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. Moreover, already attracted by Western art, he began a unknown stay great japanese painter classic career but dreams for years to join Paris, the capital of the avant-garde. For example, After having retained him, his father accesses his request. Moreover, Not without having previously consulted the French diplomatic representation in Japan so that it designates a confidence to convey. Moreover, the young man.

Count Alphonse Claret de Fleurieu (1870-1926) is chosen. “Personality often came to Japan”. this Explorer Périgourdin, born in Tursac, in the Vézère Valley, owned the Château de Marzac. Foujita was “placed under his benevolent custody” during the forty-five days of crossing to the port of Marseille in 1913.

“We first thought that Foujita had passed in Périgord in 1913, but it is false,” continues Sylvie Buisson. Foujita settles in Paris and finds herself in the heart of the artistic avant-garde “who caught him”. »»

With his best friend, Kawashima, he bought land in Montfermeil, near Paris. His friend made him discover the Isadora Duncan dance academy, which draws from unknown stay great japanese painter the sources of antiquity. The Great War stopped their enthusiasm, their house on this ground is destroyed. Short of financial means, “Foujita does not [peut] not to renet in Japan, it[est] Too risky, ”says Sylvie Buisson.

Unknown stay great japanese painter

Accompanied by two kimono servants

Unexpected, the artist then appealed to his mentor, the Count of Fleurieu. This is how he arrived in the Vézère Valley in June 1915. with Kawashima “and two Japanese Kimono servants, who were not their girlfriends”. An arrival. outfits that stand out in the rural landscape of the time, especially since Foujita was dancing pyrrhic (a religious and martial Greek dance in toga) and bathed naked in the Vézère, which could “create a little stir”, smiles Sylvie Buisson.

In reality, the 28 -year -old young man did not lend himself to an idle life: he offered his services to the Count of Fleurieu, who employs him as an agricultural worker on his farm. A parenthesis in the artist’s life. “He immediately adapted unknown stay great japanese painter to this context because of his good education,” says Sylvie Buisson.

The small Japanese community is not housed in the Château de Marzac among “this noble. very worldly family”, but a few kilometers, in the fortified house of Reignac, “Château-Falaise” of the 14th century in the town of Tursac. A building registered in historic monuments in 1964 and opened to the public only since 2006 only.

Remaining alone, Foujita is the Comte guest

In this uncomfortable troglodytic site, Kawashima is cold. His precarious state of health forced him to return to Paris in the fall of 1915 with the two servants. Foujita then moved to the Château de Marzac. at the count of the count, a hardened bachelor whom he drew with his servants. As a nod. the current owners of the building, Catherine and Jacques Guyot, launched a escape game for the 2025 season entitled “The unknown stay great japanese painter lost picture of Foujita”.

Abandoning the work unknown stay great japanese painter of the fields. the artist then paints a dozen paintings representing the strong house of Reignac or the salons of the castle. Oil on canvas “in a very academic style. which are not leading works” but which testify to this experience which ended in February 1916, when Foujita returned to Paris and then London.

A year later, in 1917, success arrived. Foujita then became one of the stars painters in the Roaring Paris (1920-1929). This is another story that begins.