Art is the Solution

Cats occupy a very unique place in the story of art. For some reason or another, felines have been a source of inspiration for artists from all ages of history and from all corners of the world. However, not all pieces of cat art are created equal. Simply put, some pieces of art capture the spirit of the cat better than others.  Below, I’ve listed some of my favorite paintings of cats: pieces of art that—in my opinion— capture the various attitudes and personalities of the elegant and mysterious cat.  Cat, 1976 by Andy Warhol - Andy Warhol was a cat person. This is a fact that endears him to me tremendously. Throughout his career, he painted, drew, and photographed many cats. However, I think this particular piece is the perfect image of a modern cat. Here, we see a sleek Siamese cat with an angular face gazing off into the distance. Perhaps he is looking forward to the technological and scientific advances of the twentieth century, but it’s more likely that he’s watching a sp...

2020 is over! I’m sure we’re all rejoicing that this difficult year is over. However, despite all the problems that 2020 created, I also had a great time exploring art over the past year. I’ve discussed 365 pieces of art in the past 365 days, so, today, I want to recap the year by talking about some of my favorite paintings that I’ve covered in the past year. Without further ado, let’s dive in. Happy New Year! 1. El Velorio by Francisco Oller - I can clearly remember the first time I saw Francisco Oller’s masterpiece El Velorio . A print of the famous piece was hanging on the wall of a Puerto Rican funeral home that I visited after the death of a relative. My mother identified the painting in passing, telling me that it was very famous. I later researched the painting on my own, and it has been one of my favorites ever since. El Velorio is one of the most famous pieces of art in Puerto Rico. Measuring eight by thirteen feet, El Velorio (which literally translates to The Wake) is tru...

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 a...

Winter, Cat on a Cushion Source: Museum of Modern Art Although French artist Théophile-Alexandre Steinle is best known for his poster illustrations, I prefer to think of him as a great painter of cats (and trust me, that’s a category of artist that the world needs more of). Throughout his career, Steinlen drew and painted hundreds of cats in many different styles and mediums; however, his most famous cat painting is probably Winter, Cat on a Cushion , which depicts a brown and black tabby sprawled across a red cushion.  While the graceful form of the cat is clearly recognizable, the cat itself is heavily heavily stylized, with Steinlen emphasizing the classic angularity of feline features. The cat’s yellow eyes draw the viewer’s gaze with their mesmerizing intensity, while its tufted ears add a charming touch. The warm, rich tones of the painting bring a touch of coziness to an ostensibly cold, winter day. Stylistically, the piece also references Eastern visual conventions, a...

A few weeks ago I was doing some research one the Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles, and, as I browsed, I kept coming upon images of cats by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen. Steinlen was a French, Art Nouveau artist who is best known for his work on posters, advertisements, and illustrations. Tournée du Chat Noir Source: Wikimedia Commons I wasn’t very familiar with Steinlen’s work, but, after reviewing his catalog, I realized he was fascinated with cats from an artistic perspective. In fact, he is probably most famous for his advertisement for Le Chat Noir, a Parisian nightclub that was frequented by artists and other members of the bohemian movement. This poster— which, as you can imagine, features an image of a black cat— is now iconic and is commonly sold as a decorative print. Aside from that particular poster, Steinlen produced many drawings, paintings, and advertisements featuring cats. He even published a book of cat illustrations, which was entitled Dessins Sans Paroles ...