Self Portrait with Cat 1928

Tsuguharu Foujita made this self-portrait with a cat, using a delicate monochrome palette, giving it a dreamy, almost ghostly feel. It's like a memory, softened by time, and you can really sense how artmaking is a process here, a gradual building up of layers. Looking at the material aspects of the work, you can see a contrast between the smoother areas and the more textured parts, like in the cat's fur. The paint seems thin, almost translucent, which adds to that ethereal quality. I love the way he’s captured the cat snuggled up, all soft and purry. Notice how he uses the line around the body to give the image definition. It’s not about photorealism; it's about capturing the essence of the moment. Foujita’s unique blend of Japanese and Western styles reminds me a little of James Ensor, they both had a really personal vision. Art's an ongoing conversation, after all, and Foujita invites us to join in, to bring our own perspectives and experiences to the table.