Like Sacha, Tsuguharu Foujita was enamoured with Montparnasse and became a prominent member of its artistic community. He travelled from his home country of Japan in 1913, only three years after Sacha arrived in 1910 (see Sacha’s biography). He altered the spelling of his name from Fujita to Foujita during this time, and adopted the Christian name of Léonard later in his life.
Foujita spoke French, explored different artistic mediums like photography and dancing, and found friends in the likes of Guillaume Apollonaire and Jean Metzinger, the latter of whom was often mentioned alongside Sacha in newspapers and photographs (please see here and here for more details). They attended the same parties. For example, a dinner at the Restaurant in Versailles with “sixty-odd guests from the Quarter” (source). Among others, we see André Salmon, Marie Wassilieff – whose studio was close to Sacha’s, and Toño Salazar.
Whether Sacha was a particularly close friend of Foujita’s or more of an acquaintance is not immediately clear. However, there is something to be said for the fact that Sacha sketched and painted Foujita. In the sketch of Foujita, it is stated that both artists signed it (source – please recall I cannot confirm the authenticity of his artwork). There appears to be a similar signature at the top left of this painting, too.
This painting was included in L’École de Paris, Collection Marek Roefler, an exhibition held between 17th October 2025 – 15th February 2026, which focused on artists within this artistic group. Its catalogue includes Sacha (p.19) as well as many other artists featured. Marek Roefler is the founder of the Villa La Fleur, a Polish museum, where the collection normally resides. L’École de Paris was comprised primarily of Eastern European artists, but also included Spanish, Italian and many other nationalities. Foujita was also part of this group. If you are interested in this group, particularly its Jewish Eastern European members, I would highly recommend the books “Histoire des Artistes Juifs de l’École de Paris / Stories of Jewish Artists of the School of Paris” by Nadine Nieszawer – it is in French and English.
Sacha exhibited his art alongside Foujita (source), attended charity balls which Foujita helped arrange/decorate (source), and both appear in Eugène Deslaw’s short film about Montparnasse (source). Even if the extent of their acquaintance can only be assumed, it is worth noting that these two artists, from such different backgrounds, found a home in Montparnasse.
A Study of Sacha Zaliouk 
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