Elise 1951

Here we have Tsuguharu Foujita's ink and color wash drawing depicting a formal gathering beneath a grand Parisian archway, marked by a tricolor flag and a curious, dancing figure overhead. Note the black cat perched high on the building's edge. The cat is an ancient symbol of independence, mystery, and even a touch of the uncanny, often associated with the night and unseen forces. It appears throughout art history, from ancient Egyptian depictions of Bastet to its presence in European folklore and art. Cats frequently appear in modern art as a symbol of modernity itself, and it has been used as such by Foujita in many of his portraits. These symbols are not merely decorative; they tap into our collective memory, resurfacing across time and cultures. The cat embodies a sense of independence, and even a sense of anarchy, a silent observer with eyes that reflect back our own unspoken desires. The symbol of the black cat shows how the past and present are eternally intertwined, and how meaning evolves in an unending cycle.