Leonard Foujita

Born in Tokyo in 1886 as the son of an army doctor. Partly on the advice of his father's superior, Ogai Mori, he enrolled in the western painting department of the Tokyo Fine Arts School (now Tokyo University of the Arts). In 1913, he moved to France and lived in Montparnasse, Paris, where he interacted with Picasso, Modigliani, and other painters of the Ecole de Paris. His portrayal of the nude, which was referred to as "milky-white skin", was highly praised. The defining characteristics were the fine outlines, drawn with a faceted brush and ink on handmade smooth canvases, and delicate shading. In 1919, he exhibited six oil paintings at the Salon d'Automne, all of which were selected for prizes. This led to his nomination for membership. In 1929, he returned temporarily for a triumphant return exhibition and in 1933, he returned to Japan once more, where had been based since. In 1955, he became a French citizen, and in 1957, the French government awarded him the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. In 1959, at the age of 72, he was baptized a Catholic at the cathedral in Reims and given the baptismal name Leonard. In his final years, he built the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Bé (Fujita Chapel). He died in 1968, two years after its completion.