'Cat' Is a Purr-fect Celebration of Felines in Art Throughout the Centuries
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The book 'Cats,' forthcoming from Phaidon, surveys felines in a wide range of art forms throughout the millennia.

‘Cat’ Is a Purr-fect Celebration of Felines in Art Throughout the Centuries

In 1835, a tortoiseshell cat measuring more than three feet long was enough to warrant a small advertisement in a British newspaper that as “the greatest curiosity ever shown to the public,” it could be viewed at the Ship Tavern in London. Surely a pint of ale was the informal fee to view this extraordinary animal.

It was during the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe that cats became increasingly recognized as worthy pets, beyond their role as mousers. Breweries and distilleries often still “employ” a cat or two to keep the rodents out of the grain. From supernatural kaibyō in Japanese folklore to felines’ divine status in ancient Egypt, the animals have had an indelible influence on mythology, history, and our daily lives for a very long time.

A digital illustration by Xuan Loc Xuan of a white cat walking through nasturtiums

Xuan Loc Xuan, “Nasturtium Cat” (2023), digital painting, 9 7/8 × 11 3/8 inches. Image courtesy of the artist

Forthcoming from Phaidon, the book Cat celebrates, well, exactly what you’d expect. From contemporary sculpture and illustrations to early photography and internet memes, the volume runs the gamut of feline personalities and depictions in art throughout the millennia. Yet no matter how diverse the portrayals or how long ago they were created, the creatures’ expressiveness—even ridiculousness—is universally relatable.

Cat surveys an immense range of mediums and eras, from medieval illuminated manuscripts to modern street art. Colossal readers may be familiar with artists like Xuan Loc Xuan, Lee Sangsoo, and Utagawa Hiroshige, among many others, whose multimedia explorations of feline nature fill the playful tome.

Slated for release on February 11, Cat is available for pre-order in the Colossal Shop.

A cartoonish drawing of a blue-black cat by Bill Traylor

Bill Traylor, Untitled (Midnight Blue Cat) (c. 1939–42), poster paint on found cardboard, 11 × 8 inches. Image © Bill Traylor Family Inc. – WhosBillTraylor.com: Ricco/Maresca Gallery

An illustration by Hiroshige of a white, tailless cat with a ribbon around its neck, playing with another ribbon, set against a green background

Utagawa Hiroshige II, “A White Cat Playing with a String” (1863), woodcut, 8 3/8 × 10 1/2 inches. Image courtesy of the Minneapolis Institute of Art

A painting by Sally J. Han of a young woman sleeping in a colorful bed with a cat by her head

Sally J. Han, “Nap” (2022), acrylic paint on paper mounted on wood panel, 24 × 30 inches. © Sally J. Han. Photo by Jason Mandella

A 19th-century illustration of a tabby cat by Nathaniel Currier

Nathaniel Currier, “The Favorite Cat” (1838–48), hand-colored lithograph, 12 1/4 × 8 5/8 inches. Image courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

An oil painting by Jodie Niss of a cat slumped and sleeping comically in a corner by a mirror

Jodie Niss, Untitled (#2) (2022), oil on wood panel, 16 × 12 inches. Image courtesy of the artist

An array of 90 cat figurines, part of a multimedia artwork by Andy Holden

Andy Holden, “Cat-tharsis” (2022), 90 cat figurines and HD video with music by The Grubby Mitts, 17 minutes. Image courtesy of the artist and Charles Moffett, New York. Photo by Thomas Barratt

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article ‘Cat’ Is a Purr-fect Celebration of Felines in Art Throughout the Centuries appeared first on Colossal.

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