Lot 64272: Foujita - Domestic Cat Illustration: Messalina

This exceptional and rare plate is from Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita's A Book of Cats. The work was published in New York by Covici Friede in 1930. This plate is printed on hand-made Arches paper stamped "Made in France". Foujita truly captured the character of the cats as they posed, rested, or played. A photocopy of the colophon with his signature will be included with the plate as well as the original poem page.

This is a fine example of Foujita's master work, from number 93 of 500 copies. This is "... one of the rarest and most desired books on cats in existence" (Kalda, Of Cats and Men, p 43) Each cat image has its own name and is accompanied by a poem about the respective cat by British writer Michael Joseph (1897-1958).

Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita (1886-1968) was a Japanese–French painter and printmaker. He was called the "master of cats." He was also referred to as "the most important Japanese artist working in the West during the 20th century." He moved to Paris in 1913 to pursue his artistic career in earnest. He soon became friends with many other leading artists of the day including Juan Gris, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

Provenance: Bookplate of Trude Owen, inscribed from Bob

~ 9 7/8" by 12 7/8"

Collotype

1930

The work is in very good to excellent condition. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

A Book of Cats