Provenance
Ambassador João Luiz Guimarães Gomes (acquired directly from the artist in 1931)
Leila Rodrigues Gomes
Thence by descent to the present owner
Catalogue Essay
In the early twentieth century, bohemian culture flourished on the banks of the river Seine in Paris, drawing numerous artists to congregate. Rich cultures and artistic inspirations from all over the world interacted and collided with each other, forming a creative ethos which incubated the École de Paris. After his arrival in Paris in 1913, Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita became active in its art scene, befriending established artists such as Modigliani and Matisse. Crucial for the artist himself however, the zealous and liberal-minded Montparnasse region freed his creative desire from some of the perceived constraints of Japanese artistic formality.

With a mastery of classical Western painting techniques, Foujita incorporated the delicacy of traditional Japanese aesthetics when approaching the depiction of nude human form, a subject matter rarely seen in traditional Japanese paintings. Foujita’s enthrallment with the French avant-garde was reciprocated when in 1925, he was awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honour.

After the divorce from his third wife Youki in 1931, he took his new muse, Madeleine Lequeux, to South America. During their sojourn in Brazil in that same year, Foujita held a solo exhibition at the Royal Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. The exhibition was well received by local art critics and collectors alike and continued on to be exhibited in São Paulo the following spring. An exceptional example of Foujita’s from this period, Reclining Nude is a testament to a particularly fruitful period of his life, with Madeleine as his model.

In this composition, the artist employs pure colours and brilliant draughtsmanship, constructing facial features and body contour of the woman with smooth lines in a concise manner, thus bringing out Foujita’s renowned technique – rendering the skin in a fine, ivory-like texture. The mild shimmering in her porcelain skin echoes the subtle and soft lines, which is then contrasted with Madeleine’s red curly hair, executed in loose brushstrokes.

A hint of erotica hovers in the ambiance of the empty background. The enchanting gaze and pouting lips of the female nude, complimented by the folds of the bed sheet caused by her languid pose, all suggest lustful sentiment. The white handkerchief held gently at her fingertips is redolent of the known visual symbol in the shunga (erotic painting) genre of ukiyo-e (‘floating world painting’) in Edo period Japan - reflecting Foujita’s intention of referencing past traditions. The artist renders white, a symbol of purity, in a large area of the canvas, in contrast with the flow of erotic emotion, generating a playful tension within the composition and attracting the viewers into boundless imagination.

Property of an Important Latin American Collector

61

Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita

Reclining Nude

1931
signed, inscribed and dated 'Tsuguharu [in Kanji] Foujita 1931' lower right
oil on canvas
65.5 x 80.7 cm. (25 3/4 x 31 3/4 in.)
Painted in 1931, this work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Sylvie Buisson.

Estimate
HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000
€331,000-552,000
$385,000-641,000

Sold for HK$6,100,000

Contact Specialist
Jonathan Crockett
Deputy Chairman, Asia and Head of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Asia
+852 2318 2023

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+852 2318 2025

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+852 2318 2000

20th Century & Contemporary Art & Design Evening Sale

Hong Kong Auction 26 November 2017

1
Shara Hughes
Two Pricks
Estimate HK$60,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$525,000
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2
Yayoi Kusama
Infinity Nets 1961 (Q.A)
Estimate HK$2,500,000 - 3,500,000
Sold for HK$3,460,000
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3
Yayoi Kusama
Pumpkin No. 2980
Estimate HK$600,000 - 900,000
Sold for HK$1,750,000
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4
Wolfgang Tillmans
Lighter, Green I
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$475,000
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5
Yoshitomo Nara
The Little Pilgrim (Night Walking)
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 2,200,000
Sold for HK$3,460,000
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6
Takashi Murakami
Kumo-Kun (Mr. Cloud)
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$625,000
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7
Aya Takano
I Found A New Road
Estimate HK$500,000 - 800,000
Sold for HK$562,500
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8
Yoshitomo Nara
Remember Your Childhood Days
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
Sold for HK$2,000,000
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9
Yayoi Kusama
Women
Estimate HK$1,800,000 - 2,800,000
Sold for HK$2,250,000
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10
George Condo
Young Girl with Blue Dress
Estimate HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000
Sold for HK$12,100,000
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11
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Hong Kong
Estimate HK$3,900,000 - 5,500,000
Sold for HK$4,300,000
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12
Andy Warhol
Self-Portrait
Estimate HK$650,000 - 850,000
Sold for HK$1,062,500
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13
KAWS
NYT
Estimate HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$1,062,500
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14
Yoshitomo Nara
Not Now
Estimate HK$6,000,000 - 8,000,000
Sold for HK$7,300,000
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15
Richard Prince
Nurse Kathy
Estimate HK$31,000,000 - 41,000,000
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16
Ronald Ventura
Current Splash
Estimate HK$180,000 - 280,000
Sold for HK$687,500
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17
Adrian Ghenie
Self-Portrait as a Monkey
Estimate HK$6,000,000 - 8,000,000
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18
Henry Moore
Mother and Child against Open Wall
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$2,250,000
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19
Finn Juhl
Pair of easy chairs, model no. FJ 53
Estimate HK$150,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$687,500
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20
Tomoo Gokita
Limbo
Estimate HK$450,000 - 650,000
Sold for HK$750,000
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21
Cecily Brown
The End
Estimate HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000
Sold for HK$4,060,000
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22
Finn Juhl
Pair of armchairs, model no. FJ 45
Estimate HK$250,000 - 350,000
Sold for HK$937,500
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23
Ai Weiwei
Divina Proportione
Estimate HK$1,500,000 - 2,500,000
Sold for HK$1,875,000
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24
Georg Baselitz
Hinterglasvogel
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$2,000,000
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25
Damien Hirst
Beautiful Romance in the Age of Uncertainty Party Painting III
Estimate HK$2,500,000 - 3,500,000
Sold for HK$3,340,000
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26
Yayoi Kusama
Abode of Heart
Estimate HK$2,800,000 - 3,800,000
Sold for HK$3,460,000
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27
Sadamasa Motonaga
Yon Kuru
Estimate HK$1,300,000 - 2,300,000
Sold for HK$1,500,000
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28
Atsuko Tanaka
2001-F
Estimate HK$6,000,000 - 8,000,000
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29
Shozo Shimamoto
Palazzo Ducale 33
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 2,200,000
Sold for HK$1,625,000
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30
Jonas Wood
Group Portrait
Estimate HK$1,800,000 - 2,800,000
Sold for HK$3,700,000
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31
Peter Doig
Birdhouse
Estimate HK$600,000 - 800,000
Sold for HK$1,062,500
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32
Hans J. Wegner
Rare 'Dolphin' folding armchair, model no. JH510
Estimate HK$750,000 - 1,200,000
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33
Roy Lichtenstein
Landscape with Poet (Study)
Estimate HK$4,500,000 - 6,500,000
Sold for HK$8,140,000
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34
teamLab
Universe of Water Particles
Estimate HK$650,000 - 950,000
Sold for HK$1,875,000
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35
Liu Wei
Landscape (in 6 parts)
Estimate HK$220,000 - 320,000
Sold for HK$375,000
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36
Lee Ufan
From Point No. 780126
Estimate HK$3,200,000 - 4,200,000
Sold for HK$4,420,000
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37
Hans J. Wegner
Two 'Ox' lounge armchairs, model nos. AP-46 and AP-47, and footstool, model no. AP-49
Estimate HK$170,000 - 250,000
Sold for HK$400,000
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38
Kohei Nawa
PixCell-Deer #8
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 1,800,000
Sold for HK$2,250,000
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39
Kim Tschang-Yeul
Gouttes d'eau
Estimate HK$2,000,000 - 3,000,000
Sold for HK$3,220,000
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40
Chung Sang-Hwa
Untitled 85-6-3
Estimate HK$3,200,000 - 5,200,000
Sold for HK$3,940,000
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41
Chung Sang-Hwa
Untitled 84-3-1
Estimate HK$1,600,000 - 2,600,000
Sold for HK$1,750,000
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42
Oh Su-Fan
God of Valley
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$687,500
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43
Yu-ichi Inoue
Illusion
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
Sold for HK$500,000
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44
Chu Teh-Chun
No.111
Estimate HK$2,400,000 - 3,500,000
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45
Chu Teh-Chun
Hong Kong No.25
Estimate HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$875,000
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46
Tsuyoshi Maekawa
Untitled
Estimate HK$700,000 - 1,000,000
Sold for HK$875,000
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47
Atsuko Tanaka
Untitled
Estimate HK$650,000 - 850,000
Sold for HK$750,000
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48
David Hockney
Caribbean Tea Time
Estimate HK$500,000 - 700,000
Sold for HK$687,500
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49
Fontana Arte
Ceiling light, model no. 2179
Estimate HK$40,000 - 60,000
Sold for HK$50,000
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50
Jiro Takamatsu
Shadow (No. 1445)
Estimate HK$1,200,000 - 2,200,000
Sold for HK$1,375,000
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51
Fontana Arte
Rare large floor mirror, model no. 2274
Estimate HK$100,000 - 150,000
Sold for HK$137,500
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52
Ai Weiwei
Double Stool
Estimate HK$700,000 - 1,000,000
Sold for HK$875,000
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53
Jenny Holzer
Shark
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$562,500
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54
Danh Vo
Pacífico
Estimate HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$937,500
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55
Gio Ponti
Pair of armchairs, model no. 516
Estimate HK$70,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$350,000
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56
Gio Ponti
Settee, model no. 516
Estimate HK$70,000 - 100,000
Sold for HK$125,000
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57
Qiu Yacai (Chiu Ya-Tsai)
Portrait of Youth
Estimate HK$400,000 - 600,000
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58
Qiu Yacai (Chiu Ya-Tsai)
Proud
Estimate HK$350,000 - 550,000
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59
Gio Ponti
Pair of armchairs, model no. 803
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$187,500
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60
Yayoi Kusama
High Heel
Estimate HK$800,000 - 1,200,000
Sold for HK$2,000,000
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61
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Reclining Nude
Estimate HK$3,000,000 - 5,000,000
Sold for HK$6,100,000
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62
Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita
Le Chat Blanc
Estimate HK$380,000 - 580,000
Sold for HK$2,740,000
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63
Li Chen
Riding the Wind
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$562,500
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64
Ju Ming
Taichi
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$750,000
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65
Osvaldo Borsani
Rare console, designed for the IX Triennale, Milan
Estimate HK$50,000 - 70,000
Sold for HK$350,000
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66
Yayoi Kusama
Snow
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$950,000
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67
Kazuo Shiraga
Bakumatsu power
Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Sold for HK$750,000
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68
Kumi Sugaï
La Planète Mercuse No. 2
Estimate HK$120,000 - 220,000
Sold for HK$225,000
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69
KAWS
Four Foot Dissected Companion
Estimate HK$120,000 - 180,000
Sold for HK$562,500
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70
Andy Warhol
Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn)
Estimate HK$200,000 - 300,000
Sold for HK$300,000
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71
Gerhard Richter
P15 Flow
Estimate HK$70,000 - 90,000
Sold for HK$337,500
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