In March 1917, she met the Japanese artist Tsuguharu Foujita at the Café de la Rotonde in Montparnasse,[3] who fell madly in love with her and married her thirteen days later.[1] In 1918 the couple moved to escape the German bombs to Cagnes-sur-Mer, where she spent a year painting and meeting many friends.[1] During this period, she became friends with Jeanne Hébuterne, the bride of Modigliani.[4] When Modigliani died of tuberculosis in 1920, Barrey tried in vain to console the new widow, but Jeanne, eight months pregnant, committed suicide.
During the year 1925, the couple led a very open relationship, both having relations with people of both sexes. The painter did not forgive Fernande after she had a love affair with his cousin, Koyanagi, a painter. He then locked himself with the Belgian artist Lucie Badoul (called Youki) for three days during which Fernande desperately sought her husband in the Parisian morgues. In 1928, the couple divorced[5] and she lived with Koyanagi in Montmartre. When Koyanagi was separated himself in 1935, his relationship with Tsugouharu Foujita improved; he helped her financially until her death.
Some sources link Fernande Barrey and the famous Miss Fernande, favourite model of the female photographer Jean Agélou, who appeared on many erotic postcards,[6] although this has never been proven.[7]
As a painter, she exhibited the paintings Josiane and Les Pêches at the Salon d'Automne in 1929.[8]
