Chatte Et Chaton © Tsuguharu Foujita 1929
Tsuguharu Foujita
20 works
Key Takeaways
Tsuguharu Foujita prints demonstrate considerable market stability, with individual works typically achieving £3,000 to £15,000, while complete portfolios command substantially higher prices. His 1920s Les Chats (1929) series holds the record at £150,420, achieved in Tokyo in 2016. Authentication requires thorough examination of paper quality - from early Japanese washi to later European stocks - and reference to Sylvie Buisson's 2001 catalogue raisonné. Market performance peaks during major exhibitions and cultural events, as demonstrated in 2018 when multiple factors aligned to drive exceptional sales, including a major Paris retrospective marking 50 years since his death.
Tsuguharu Foujita bridged Eastern and Western artistic traditions, creating a unique style that blended Japanese ink techniques with European Modernism. He was one of the most significant artists of the Parisian avant-garde. His prints, particularly those featuring his signature cats and nudes, captured the essence of his distinctive aesthetic while making his work accessible to a broader audience. This guide aims to assist sellers in navigating the market for Foujita's prints, offering insights into valuation, authentication, and effective selling strategies.
Foujita's printmaking practice developed alongside his painting career in Paris during the 1920s, where he became a central figure in the School of Paris. His prints often showcased the same subjects as his paintings: elegant cats, graceful nudes, and intimate portraits, all executed with his characteristic fine lines and subtle tonal variations. Through collaboration with printers in both France and Japan, Foujita created editions that maintained the delicacy and precision of his painted works, capturing the bohemian spirit of 1920s Montparnasse.
How Much Do Tsuguharu Foujita Prints Sell For?
The market for Foujita's prints has remained consistent over the past few decades, reflecting his status as a significant figure in both European and Asian art histories and the popular nature of his style and subject matter. Individual prints typically fetch between £3,000 and £15,000, depending on factors such as rarity, condition, and subject matter, with portfolios of prints achieving much more.
Foujita's prints from the 1920s, when he was at the height of his Parisian success, represent the pinnacle of his print market. Prints from this period featuring cats, children, or female figures, achieve the highest prices of all. The record sale of a collection of Foujita prints, for example, is held by a set of 10 Les Chats (1929) etchings, which sold for £150,420 in Tokyo in 2016. These etchings are arguably the most quintessential examples of Foujita’s printed works in existence; and, this particular set's exceptional value stemmed from its status as artist proofs, with only five sets produced. One year earlier, a set of 10 standard edition Les Chats (c.1930) etchings, from a larger run of 100, sold for £80,914 in Berlin, proving the power of the artist proofs, but also the strong selling power retained by standard, large edition Foujita prints.
Foujita’s other major series from this period have shown similar strength. An album of Les Enfants (1929), featuring 10 etchings of young children, sold in 2012 for £61,200 in Tokyo. This classic print album, demonstrating Foujita’s unique captivating portrait style, includes Fillette Au Chat and Petite Fille Au Capuchon Sous La Neige. More recently, another full set of 10 Les Enfants sold for £47,304 in 2023. His studies of the female form also perform impressively: Femmes (1930), a collection of 12 depictions of nude female figures, sold for £50,000 in London in 2017. The UK market, particularly at auction, is not always Foujita’s strongest; however, this set also featured an original drawing, which encouraged high bidders. Unique features such as this are generally expected to attract higher prices.
Although full collections of prints comfortably achieve the highest prices, individual prints from these series do occasionally sell well on their own. Many collectors may have prints missing from their existing collections, or simply be purchasing for display rather than investment. A single print from Les Chats (1929), titled Chatte Et Chaton, sold in 2020 for £25,892, exceeding its high estimate by nearly 20%.
Not all of Foujita’s prints were designed as part of print sets. As a result, these pieces are generally sold individually. Le Rêve (1947) is an example of Foujita’s later, more intricate, work and was produced in a fairly large edition. A standard edition print of Le Rêve sold in 2019 for £22,128, far exceeding its estimate. Significantly, this price exceeded that of an “Hors d’Commerce” edition of the print (given as a gift, rather than published for sale) sold in 2021 for £21,152, suggesting that the artist's distinctive aesthetic often carries more weight than edition size in determining value.
How Do You Authenticate A Tsuguharu Foujita Print?
Authentication of prints from blue chip artists can make a huge difference to their estimated value and final selling price. The process itself has two important steps: examination of physical characteristics and assessment of provenance. Begin by establishing the print's provenance through certificates of authenticity, gallery receipts, and exhibition history - these documents will create a kind of paper trail that leads back to the print’s creation. Foujita worked with several prestigious Parisian print studios, including Atelier Georges Leblanc, whose stamps, certificates, and watermarks can provide crucial evidence. Le Rêve (1947), for example, was published by the artist Guy Spitzer and bears his monogram blindstamp and ink stamp on the reverse.
The paper quality and printing techniques must align with Foujita's known practices - Foujita's printmaking evolved through his career, marked by his initial use of traditional Japanese papers before transitioning to premium European stocks like Arches and Chine appliqué for his French editions. Professional appraisers use these specific material choices as temporal markers, helping to verify both the period and authenticity of prints.
The most authoritative resource for authentication remains Sylvie Buisson's 2001 catalogue raisonné, which meticulously documents Foujita's print editions, including detailed specifications of papers, edition sizes, and known variations. The Fondation Foujita, which has maintained the artist's archive since 2009, serves as another crucial resource for verification, holding comprehensive records that can definitively establish a print's place within Foujita's body of work.
Edition and Signature
Foujita's signature appears in various forms across his career, reflecting his movement between cultures. Early prints often bear his Japanese signature, while later works typically feature his Western signature "T. Foujita" in pencil in the lower right margin. His signatures are characteristically precise and controlled, much like his artistic style.
Edition numbers usually appear in the lower left corner, written as fractions. Foujita's print editions varied in size but were typically limited to between 30 and 100 copies, with some later editions reaching 250. Artist's proofs, marked "E.A." (épreuve d'artiste), are particularly valued by collectors and can fetch higher prices than numbered editions.
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Has Your Tsuguharu Foujita Print Been Kept In Good Condition?
Foujita prints in near-mint condition will always have the most appeal for collectors. Therefore, ensuring that your print is well looked after, stored correctly, and protected from damage is a long-term endeavour with a substantial reward. Foujita prints, in particular, require careful preservation to maintain their distinctive qualities, especially the fine lines and delicate washes that characterise his style.
Foujita typically used high-quality Japanese mulberry papers (washi) for his early prints, later transitioning to European papers such as Arches and Rives for his French editions. These papers are naturally resilient but can be susceptible to foxing and acid burn if not properly stored. Exposure to moisture or humidity can cause warping and exposure to harsh light can cause yellowing. The special sumi ink he often used, similar to that used in traditional Japanese calligraphy, although visually rich in colour, can be particularly sensitive to light exposure and environmental conditions.
Condition assessment should focus on several key areas: the preservation of Foujita's precise linework, which should remain crisp and unbroken; the maintenance of smooth tonal transitions in wash areas; and the overall stability of the paper support. Any deterioration in these elements - whether through breaks in the lines, uneven fading, or surface damage - can substantially impact both aesthetic appeal and market value.
To protect these sensitive works, storage in acid-free environments is essential, along with strict control of light exposure and humidity levels. When displaying Foujita prints, UV-protective glazing and acid-free mounting materials are crucial safeguards against deterioration. For pieces showing signs of damage, professional conservation may be necessary to stabilise their condition and prevent further degradation.
For advice on how to get started with condition assessment of your Tsuguharu Foujita print, contact MyArtBroker.
When Is The Best Time To Sell My Tsuguharu Foujita Print?
Major exhibitions and cultural events are often responsible for bubbles of high-value sales, particularly shows focusing on Foujita himself, the School of Paris, or Japanese Modernism. This pattern was powerfully demonstrated in 2018, when several key events aligned to drive exceptional market performance. A major retrospective at the Musée Maillol in Paris, marking the 50th anniversary of the artist's death, generated renewed international interest in his work. During the same period, Foujita's oil painting La Fête d'Anniversaire (1949) achieved a record £6,100,000 at auction in London. This confluence of institutional attention and market success established new benchmarks for Foujita's work across all mediums. Understanding such patterns can help sellers identify advantageous timing - when prints from certain periods or featuring particular subjects align with current market interests, their values often peak.
MyArtBroker offers advanced art tech tools to help you determine the optimal time to sell. Our MyPortfolio service features an AI-powered value indicator that provides real-time valuations of individual prints based on both public and private sales data. Combined with our complimentary valuations, we can help ensure your print achieves maximum value by selling at the perfect moment.
Where Can I Sell My Tsuguharu Foujita Print?
Selling A Tsuguharu Foujita Via A Broker
Art brokers specialising in modern prints or School of Paris artists can offer a more personalised approach to selling Foujita prints. These professionals often maintain networks of collectors specifically interested in Franco-Japanese art and can facilitate private sales with greater efficiency than public auctions. Their expertise in both European and Asian art markets can be particularly valuable given Foujita's cross-cultural appeal. Working with a broker typically involves lower fees compared to auction houses, generally ranging from 10% to 20%. While sellers might miss the potential for dramatic bidding wars that auctions can generate, the focused attention and market knowledge of a specialist broker can often result in stronger overall outcomes, particularly for prints of moderate value.
Selling A Tsuguharu Foujita Via Auction House
Traditional auction houses provide a global platform for selling Foujita prints, with major houses like Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips regularly featuring his work in their Asian art and Modern print sales. These institutions can effectively contextualise Foujita's unique position between Eastern and Western artistic traditions, attracting serious collectors from both markets. Their international reach and marketing capabilities can be particularly advantageous for rare or historically significant prints, potentially driving prices higher through competitive bidding. However, auction house fees typically reach 25% of the hammer price, and the public nature of auctions carries inherent risks. Should a print fail to meet its reserve price, this public record could negatively impact its future value. Sellers must also adapt to rigid auction schedules, which might not align with optimal market conditions or personal timing preferences.
To learn more, read our guide to Auction v Private Sale in the Art Market.
Selling A Tsuguharu Foujita Via Online Marketplace
Digital platforms have changed the face of the art market, offering new avenues for selling prints, and dramatically increasing the number of print sales that happen each year. These venues can be suitable for more accessible Foujita prints, potentially enabling faster sales with reduced fees compared to traditional channels. However, selling valuable artworks online presents unique challenges, particularly for blue chip artists, whose work requires careful authentication. If considering an online sale, choose specialised fine art platforms with robust verification processes and experience handling high-value prints. The platform should have appropriate security measures and a track record of successful sales of similar calibre works. For significant Foujita prints, traditional sales channels offer more appropriate levels of expertise and security, inspiring greater buyer confidence.
Why Sell Your Tsuguharu Foujita With MyArtBroker?
A Dedicated Broker
MyArtBroker offers a distinctive service connecting clients with their dedicated personal broker, ensuring a secure transaction through our online digital platform. Our specialists excel at sourcing direct buyers for consigned prints via our live trading floor, where users within our extensive network can express interest in specific prints and multiples by particular artists, whether they intend to sell, buy, or simply enquire about a specific print. Our team is approachable, passionate, and consistently provides updates on the art market and artists. We guide sellers through a seamless transaction process, establishing a fair market valuation based on realistic sale prices and offering free advice on the optimal timing for selling, leveraging our extensive knowledge of the art market.
Minimise Risk
At MyArtBroker, we prioritise transparency and security in every art sale. Our stringent due diligence process ensures the authentication and verification of artwork provenance, drawing upon our in-house expertise and collaborating with professional external contacts when needed. This approach effectively mitigates the risk of trading counterfeit or stolen art pieces. Additionally, we minimise the risks associated with public sales. While public auctions may seem appealing, unsold prints can harm an artist's market. Private sales eliminate this risk and enable quicker liquidity release for your artwork compared to adhering to strict auction schedules dictating when your work can be offered for sale.
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Our team of specialists offers tailored services to procure rare and special edition prints, catering to both seasoned collectors and newcomers to the market. As part of our standard practice, we provide complimentary valuations and charge zero seller's fees, setting us apart from other private brokers and traditional auction houses. By minimising overhead costs, we allocate resources towards digital innovation and targeted marketing strategies within our network and house magazine.
When it comes to selling artwork, achieving the best price hinges on accessing a niche market with an established collector community. If you're looking to sell a print, turning to a specialist in the print market, like MyArtBroker, yields superior results compared to approaching an auction house, which caters to broader categories of artwork.
Our Network
Through our live trading floor we empower our network of collectors, fundamentally reshaping the art investment and trading landscape in the digital era. Offering real time market data and insights gleaned from worldwide collectors, we establish value based on convenience, accessibility, and the exceptional level of transparency and security provided to over tens of thousands of users.
Tsuguharu Foujita Collection Management With MyPortfolio
In addition to our live trading floor, MyArtBroker's MyPortfolio serves as a collection management system, empowering collectors to curate and oversee their prints and editions collection. This feature grants users access to our print market database, uniquely tied to our proprietary algorithm, SingularityX. This algorithm scans and analyses both public auction and private sales data to determine real time valuations of individual print works, factoring in various aspects such as condition, colour, and other factors affecting value.
Read What Powers MyArtBroker's Technology? In Conversation With Stuart Jamieson, Financial Quant to learn more about our algorithm.
