When people talk about the painter Tsuguharu Fujita, the first thing that comes to mind for many is probably his translucent, milky-white skin. Born in Tokyo in 1886 and ending his life in Paris in 1968, he was a darling of the School of Paris and one of the most internationally renowned Japanese painters.
Tracing Fujita’s life reveals the image of an artist constantly wavering between Japan and France, searching for his own place in the world. After graduating from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, he defied opposition from those around him and went to France. Paris at that time was a hub for talents like Picasso and Modigliani, but amidst this, Fujita established a completely new style, fusing the delicate lines of Eastern painting with Western oil painting techniques.
His secret “milky white” technique astonished Paris at the time. The smooth, almost porcelain-like texture was achieved not with a flat brush, but with a Japanese fine-tipped brush, combined with ink. This unique technique made him an instant celebrity. Combined with his distinctive bob haircut and round glasses, he became the star of Montparnasse nights, enjoying the glamorous social scene.
However, his life was not always filled with glorious success. When World War II began, he returned to Japan and began painting “war paintings.” As a commissioned artist for the army, he depicted the horrific scenes of the battlefield with overwhelming realism. After the war, his work was severely criticized as collaborating with the war effort. Disheartened, Fujita left Japan again and became a naturalized French citizen, leaving behind the words, “I did not abandon Japan; Japan abandoned me.”
In his later years, he adopted the name Léonard Foujita, was baptized into the Catholic faith, and devoted himself to creating murals for chapels he designed. His former flamboyance faded, and perhaps he sought solace in religious serenity. In Foujita’s paintings of children and religious figures, there is a certain melancholy, yet a gaze full of compassion.
Looking at Tsuguharu Fujita’s paintings, I feel as if I can touch upon the depth of the loneliness he carried. The struggles of a painter who loved Japan but could only express himself in a foreign land resonate deeply with us living in this era. The milky white glow he left behind continues to convey a quiet passion that cannot be put into words, even after the passage of time.