FOUJITA Tsuguharu (藤田嗣治 / Léonard Foujita) (1886–1968) Aru Onna (或る女) – A Certain Woman Also known as: Woman in Red Shawl (赤いショールの女) TECHNICAL DETAILS Technique: Woodblock print (mokuhanga) – Shin Hanga Date: c. 1930s - Lifetime Edition 24/100 (hand-numbered in pencil) Publisher: Takamizawa Mokuhansha (高見澤木版社) Format: Ōban, approx. 37.5 × 24.5 cm (14.8 × 9.6 inches) Signature: Block-signed 嗣治 (Tsuguji) with romanized "Foujita" within image CONDITION REPORT Impression & Colors: Excellent. Vibrant, saturated colors throughout with exceptionally preserved details. The red shawl retains its full intensity, and the turquoise background displays the intricate goma-zuri (sesame seed) texture in pristine condition. Paper: Deckle edges fully intact. Clean throughout with no foxing, tears, or losses. Includes: Original premium washi paper folder (袋) with title slip (tanzaku) bearing the title 或る女 and artist name 藤田嗣治 in brush calligraphy—exceptionally rare survival of original packaging. This explains why the print is in such good condition. "A CERTAIN WOMAN" – EAST MEETS WEST IN PERFECT HARMONY This striking portrait exemplifies Foujita's genius for fusing Japanese printmaking traditions with Parisian modernism. A Western woman in a crimson shawl gazes pensively to the right, her elegant hands clasped before her in a gesture suggesting quiet contemplation. The black dress with its scalloped blue trim provides dramatic contrast, while a simple black choker adds a touch of 1920s sophistication. The background is where traditional Japanese craft truly shines. The printer employed goma-zuri (胡麻摺り)—the "sesame seed" technique—creating thousands of tiny irregular marks that produce a shimmering, atmospheric depth. This textural complexity pushes the figure forward, isolating her in space while suggesting an almost dreamlike atmosphere. Look closely and you'll see the swirling patterns within the turquoise field, each one printed by hand with remarkable precision. Foujita's signature delicate linework—influenced by his training in traditional Japanese sumi-e ink painting—defines the woman's flowing hair and graceful fingers with extraordinary refinement. Yet the bold color palette and the subject herself speak unmistakably of Paris in the Années Folles. TSUGUHARU FOUJITA: THE BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS Tsuguharu Foujita (1886–1968) stands as one of the most significant Japanese artists of the 20th century and a central figure of the École de Paris. Arriving in Montparnasse in 1913, he quickly befriended Picasso, Modigliani, Matisse, and Soutine, becoming the only Japanese artist to achieve true celebrity status in interwar Paris. His distinctive style—combining the ultra-fine brushwork of Japanese ink painting with Western oil techniques—created something entirely new. His luminous portraits of women and cats, rendered with what critics called "milky white" backgrounds and impossibly delicate lines, made him an international sensation. By the 1920s, Foujita was one of the highest-paid artists in Paris. During visits to Japan in the 1930s, Foujita collaborated with master woodblock publishers to translate his vision into the traditional mokuhanga medium. Working with Takamizawa Mokuhansha, he created a small series of bijin-ga (beautiful women) portraits that achieved international recognition at the 1930 Chicago World's Fair. These woodblock prints represent a unique fusion: Foujita's Parisian subjects and modernist sensibility, executed through Japan's centuries-old collaborative printmaking tradition involving specialized designers, carvers, and printers. They are among the rarest and most sought-after works in the shin-hanga canon. EDITION & PUBLISHER NOTES The print was published by Takamizawa Mokuhansha (高見澤木版社), the original publisher of Foujita's bijin-ga woodblock series. The "Aru Onna" design was produced in two color variants: this red shawl version and a brown shawl variant. The red version, with its more vibrant palette and dramatic visual impact, is generally considered the more desirable of the two and is limited to only 100. RARITY & MARKET Foujita woodblock prints appear infrequently at auction and command strong prices when they do. His works on paper have averaged approximately $15,800 at international auctions over the past year. Another impression of "Aru Onna" (titled "My Wife") is currently listed at Moonlit Sea Prints (USA) for $3,500.