{"id":807,"date":"2023-04-14T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueandread.asbarcelona.com\/?p=807"},"modified":"2023-04-28T06:40:24","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T06:40:24","slug":"a-brief-look-at-the-portrayal-of-cats-in-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueandread.asbarcelona.com\/?p=807","title":{"rendered":"A Brief Look at the Portrayal of Cats in Art"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A few weeks ago was Saint Patrick\u2019s day, a religious and cultural holiday that celebrates the death of the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has become so popular that even many who aren\u2019t Irish celebrate the occasion, most notably by wearing green. Little do people know, though, that on that same day another saint has been heavily overshadowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saint Gertrude of Nivelles is mainly recognized as the patron saint of \u201ctravelers, gardeners, widows, recently deceased souls, souls in purgatory, [and] rodents.\u201d In recent years, she has unofficially been recognized as the patron saint of cats, most likely due to her \u201cassociation with warding off rats and mice,\u201d since cats are natural predators of these creatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To commemorate this saint, here is a look at how cats have been portrayed in visual arts throughout history. Having even appeared in the Lascaux cave art, a renowned archaeological site in southeast France, these felines have made frequent appearances in art for as long as they have been around. This may be because they are easier to paint compared to other animals, due to the similar characteristics between breeds. Not to mention, their dynamic poses and unique personalities are a great addition to any composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“It\u2019s no surprise that cats appear so frequently in paintings: artists tend to love them, maybe because they are so defiant and independent.”<\/p>\nRhiannon Lucy Cosslett, Columnist and Author at ‘The Guardian<\/em>‘<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Cats\u2019 diverse personalities make them a convenient subject for artists to portray in visual arts. Often, they are used as a symbol of sensuality and seduction, likely due to their association with fertility, as seen in F\u00e9lix Valloton\u2019s 1896 woodcut titled Laziness<\/em>. Although there are numerous artworks that feature a woman and a cat in an erotic manner, there are also many that unite the two. Most people have probably heard the term \u201ccrazy cat lady\u201d which describes a single, childless woman who owns a cat, if not many. Looking past this term that carries negative connotations, many pieces of art depict a cat as a woman\u2019s partner in crime. Perhaps what unites female subjects and cats in art is their defiant nature. Such reasoning most definitely applies to Saint Gertrude, who defied King Dagobert\u2019s wishes for her to marry the son of a duke, and went on to take over a monastery and devote herself to praying.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Valladon, Suzanne. Portrait of Lily Walton with Raminou<\/em>. 1922. Oil on canvas. Private collection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Looking past the depiction of cats and female subjects, felines may also be portrayed in a comical light, as seen in this 17th century painting of two children aggravating a cat, or in the works of Henriette Ronner, an artist who specialized in painting cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Carracci, Annibale. Two Children Teasing a Cat<\/em>. 1590. Oil on canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York City, New York.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ronner, Henri\u00ebtte. Kitten\u2019s Game<\/em>. c. 1860 – c. 1878. Oil on panel. Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam, Netherlands.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And for those who aren\u2019t interested in paintings, look no further. Malaysian artist Kamwei Fong has specialized in drawing fluffy cats by only using a fine-line pen. Through various and differing pen strokes, the artist looks past a cat\u2019s cold exterior and captures the animal\u2019s playful side. In this time consuming process, he goes from using thin strokes to thick, effectively giving a sense of volume and texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fong, Kamwei. \u201cBlack Cat.\u201d Ink on Paper.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cats were seen as ideal companions for monks and nuns, making it likely that Saint Gertrude may have kept a cat in her community. Keeping that in mind, it is only natural that cats have their own patron saint. The unpredictable nature and complexity of cats has allowed artists to get creative with their portrayals of these creatures. As they continue to be a popular pet, their presence in art will continue to thrive and bring unique artworks to the forefront.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bibliography: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCats and art: 5 famous paintings in which the feline is featured.\u201d StyleMania. 9 Mar 2023.
https:\/\/www.stylemania.it\/arte-e-cultura\/gatti-e-arte-5-quadri-famosi-in-cui-il-felino-protagonista.htm?lang=EN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCryptic creatures: the symbolism of animals in art.\u201d Fine Art Restoration Company. 1 September 2022.
https:\/\/fineart-restoration.co.uk\/news\/cryptic-creatures-the-symbolism-of-animals-in-art\/#:~:text=Cats%20in%20art,pursuits%20to%20calm%20domestic%20comforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davies, Harry. \u201c10 Artists Who Were Inspired By Their Cats.\u201d Domestika. 4 December 2020.
https:\/\/www.domestika.org\/en\/blog\/3301-10-artists-who-were-inspired-by-their-cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaru\u0161evi\u010di\u016bt\u0117, Greta. \u201cMalaysian Artist Creates Fluffy Cats Using Just Ink And The Result Looks Hauntingly Beautiful.\u201d Bored Panda. 19 Mar 2023.
https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/fluffy-black-cat-ink-drawings-kamwei-fong\/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucy Cosslett, Rhiannon. \u201cFabulous felines: why female artists love stroking, painting and spoiling cats.\u201d The Guardian. 10 Jan 2023.
https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/artanddesign\/2023\/jan\/10\/fabulous-felines-female-artists-cats-tracey-emin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pattenden, Miles. \u201cForget Patrick: March 17 is also St Gertrude\u2019s Day, commemorating the patron saint of cats.\u201d The Conversation. 17 Mar 2023.
https:\/\/theconversation.com\/forget-patrick-march-17-is-also-st-gertrudes-day-commemorating-the-patron-saint-of-cats-177550.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

R\u00e4\u00e4bus, Carol. \u201cSt Gertrude’s Day prompts brief look at cats in art history.\u201d ABC News. 17 Mar 2023.
https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2023-03-17\/celebrating-cats-in-art-for-st-gertrudes-day\/102092484.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSaint Gertrude of Nivelles Day \u2013 March 17, 2023.\u201d National Today. 11 Aug 2022.
https:\/\/nationaltoday.com\/saint-gertrude-of-nivelles-day\/#:~:text=Saint%20Gertrude%20was
%20an%20abbess,and%2C%20most%20recently%2C%20cats.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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