Provenance
Private Collection, courtesy Galerie Dina Vierny
Exhibited
Paris, Fondation Dina Vierny-Musée Maillol, Foujita, Peindre dans les années folles, 7 March - 15 July 2018, no. 88, p.130 (illustrated)
Literature
Sylvie and Dominique Buisson, Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita: Catalogue général raisonné Volume 1, Paris, 1987, no. 27.14, p. 392 (illustrated)
Catalogue Essay
In the roaring 1920s of France, Foujita in his thirties had gained significant popularity and began receiving commisions from Parisian celebrities and society women as a form of income. These women were curious to experience being painted by a rising star of the art world. One of his many patrons, the sitter in Portrait of Madame Hélène Berthelot is wife of Phillipe Berthelot— secretary general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Adorned with jewels, bright expressive eyes and an enigmatic smile, she is at ease with her artist, implying that Foujita may have been close friends with the Berthelots, "Foujita appreciated the breakfast at Phillipe and Hélène Berthelot where there was an atmosphere more literary and political” (p. 126 Sylvie and Dominique Buisson, Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita: Volume 1, Paris, 2001, p. 126)

A test sketch for a painting, the present work’s simple composition offers a glimpse into Foujita’s thought processes and exploration of details. The clean background allows the viewer to fully concentrate on the subject; her facial features, short cropped hair, flowing dress and opulent jewelry befitting of a woman of her social standing. Thin outlines over a minimal background also allude to the artist’s Japanese roots, the smooth lines and aesthetic treatment of space extracted from his Japanese artistic background. It is through Foujita’s test sketchs that the artist first captures the essence of his model, refining his drawings several times before transfering them onto the canvas. In the completed work, Portrait de Madame Berthelot is rendered in the artist’s signature milky white glaze in a predominantly monochrome palette. Occupying the majority of the composition, Foujita maintains the attention towards Madame Berthelot, and lightly accesorises the composition with her favourite things, highlighting her jewelry and fishes with delicate touches of colour.

Lounging comfortably in luxury, Madame Hélène Berthelot directly addresses her viewer, revealing a glimpse of a socialite living in the spiritedness and colourful world of the 1920s.

[comp image]

6

Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita

Portrait de Madame Hélène Berthelot

1927
signed and dated 'Tsuguharu [in Kanji] Foujita 1927' lower right
pencil, pastel and chalk on paper
63.5 x 93 cm. (25 x 36 5/8 in.)
Executed in 1927.

Estimate On Request

Foujita/Sanyu: Muses and Models

Hong Kong Selling Exhibition 18-31 May 2019

1
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Nude with Raised Arms
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
2
Sanyu
Seated Woman
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
3
Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita
Contemplating Woman
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
4
Sanyu
Kneeling Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
5
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Nu allongé, Madeleine
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
6
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Portrait de Madame Hélène Berthelot
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
7
Toshio Bando
Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
8
Sanyu
Femme à la fleur (Woman smelling flowers)
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
9
Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita
Madeleine
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
10
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Naiade
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
11
Sanyu
Reclining nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
12
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Bathers
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
13
Sanyu
Seated Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
14
Sanyu
Standing nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
15
Sanyu
Seated Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
16
Sanyu
Seated Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
17
Sanyu
Reclining Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
18
Sanyu
Standing Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
19
Sanyu
Standing Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
20
Sanyu
Seated Woman
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
21
Sanyu
Reclining Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
22
Sanyu
Seated Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
23
Sanyu
Woman’s Leg
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
24
Sanyu
Standing Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
25
Sanyu
Standing Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
26
Sanyu
Standing Woman
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
27
Sanyu
Standing Woman
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
28
Sanyu
Woman Drawing
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
29
Sanyu
Woman’s Profile
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
30
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Profil de jeune femme blonde au chignon (Portrait of a blond young girl with a bun)
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
31
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Le mépris
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
32
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Petite fille avec deux chats
Estimate HK$120,000 - 180,000
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
33
Sanyu
Reclining Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
34
Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita
Madeleine Sleeping
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
35
Sanyu
Seated woman drawing
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
36
Sanyu
Standing Man
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
37
Sanyu
Seated woman
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
38
Sanyu
Reclining nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
39
Sanyu
Seated woman
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
40
Sanyu
Etudes de main (Study of hands)
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
41
Sanyu
Seated woman
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
42
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Les deux amies
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
43
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Untitled
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
44
Sanyu
Seated woman with extended leg
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
45
Sanyu
Seated nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
46
Sanyu
Standing Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
47
Sanyu
Seated Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
48
Sanyu
Standing nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
49
Sanyu
Standing nude with bended leg
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
50
Sanyu
Femme nu assise (Reclining nude)
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
51
Sanyu
Leaning Nude
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
52
Sanyu
Standing woman with raised arms (double sided)
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.
53
Sanyu
Standing nude (double sided)
Estimate On Request
Create your first list.
Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

Foujita/Sanyu: Muses and Models

Hong Kong Selling Exhibition 18-31 May 2019

Create your first list.

Provenance

Exhibited

Literature

Catalogue Essay

6

Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita

Portrait de Madame Hélène Berthelot

Foujita/Sanyu: Muses and Models

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.

Create your first list.