Apotheosis of Cats by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen (Interpretation and Analysis)

Apotheosis of Cats
Source: WikiArt

For better or for worse, cats have always been associated with witchcraft and mystery. Personally, I think this is a bit unfair; although they’re magnificent animals, there is nothing supernatural about ordinary, domestic cats.

Yet, French artist Théophile Alexandre Steinlen is able to inject some magic into the image of the cat. Steinlen, who is famous for designing Parisian posters and advertisements, was also an ardent lover of cats. He produced many drawings and paintings of cats throughout his career, all in his Art Nouveau style.

That being said, the Apotheosis of Cats is probably one of his more inventive pieces. The painting depicts a sea of cats spilling out like an ocean across the streets and rooftops of a cityscape which might represent Paris. The cats—which can be found in all shapes, sizes, and colors—swarm toward a massive cat in the distance, which is silhouetted against a gigantic yellow moon.

The exact significance of this strange and mysterious piece of art is unclear. In its tenor and composition, the Apotheosis of Cats seems to represent some bizarre religious ceremony understood only by felines. The title of the piece supports this. The term apotheosis usually refers to an act of religious exaltation, comprising the act of raising something to the level of divinity (full disclosure, I did have to look this term up, but I think it’s a fun word, so I’m going to keep using it). The monumental cat in the distance could be either a statue or a monstrous living creature. But, either way, the other cats seem to regard it as a feline god made manifest.

Steinlen himself regarded cats as a symbol of the bohemian lifestyle, the freewheeling, artistic way of life that he himself enjoyed. So, this triumph of cats could represent the rise of all things bohemian.

Either way, the Apotheosis of Cats is a charming and expressive painting that captures the unique magic of cats. In the words of one of my favorite authors Terry Pratchett, “In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.”

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.