Cats in art

Cats in art

Desmond Morris

Book - 2017

"The cat--that most graceful, stubborn, and agile of animals--has been a favorite subject of artists the world over from prehistory to the modern day. A spectacular 7,000-year-old engraving in Libya depicts a catfight. Figures modeled by the Babylonians remind us of their belief that the souls of priests were escorted to paradise by a helpful cat. Pablo Picasso was known to have loved cats and famously portrayed them as savage predators. In Victorian times, cats were depicted in loving family groups with mothers caring for their playful kittens. Today, the cat is one of the most popular domestic pets on the planet, and feline art is a hugely popular theme across the world. In his latest eye-catching book, best-selling author Desmond M...orris tells the compelling story of cats in art. He explores feline art in its many forms, tracing its history from ancient rock paintings and spectacular Egyptian art to the work of old masters, avant-garde representations, and the depiction of cats in cartoons. Morris discusses the various ways in which artists have approached the subject throughout history, weaving illuminating stories with rarely seen images. The result is a beautifully illustrated book that will delight anyone with a Kitty, Max, or Tigger in their life."--

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Subjects
Cats > Pictorial works.
Cats in art > Pictorial works.
Cats > History.
Illustrated works.
Genres
Illustrated works
Published
London, UK : Reaktion Books 2017.
Language
English
Main Author
Desmond Morris (author)
Physical Description
248 pages : color illustrations ; 27 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (page 237-239) and index.
ISBN
9781780238333
  • Introduction
  • 1. Sacred Cats
  • 2. Early Urban Cats
  • 3. Medieval Cats
  • 4. Satanic Cats
  • 5. Old Master Cats
  • 6. Nineteenth-century Cats
  • 7. Modern Cats
  • 8. Avant-garde Cats
  • 9. Contemporary Traditional Cats
  • 10. Naive Realist Cats
  • 11. Naive Primitive Cats
  • 12. Tribal Cats
  • 13. Eastern Cats
  • 14. Cartoon Cats
  • 15. Street Art Cats
  • Select Bibliography
  • Acknowledgements
  • Photo Acknowledgements
  • Index
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Zoologist Morris (The Boats of Malta) emphasizes the rich variety of cat images in art history, from a 7,000-year-old Libyan carving of cats fighting to Ronald Searle's cartoon cats. Featuring 130 reproductions, the book explores the various manifestations and meanings behind the feline motif in art history, touching on the religious significance of cats in ancient Egypt, as seen in portrayals of the lion-headed goddess of war, Sekhmet, as well as in the medieval period in Europe, when cats developed evil connotations often portrayed in manuscripts with the devil and witches. Morris traces the erotic associations back to the late Renaissance, specifically Dutch painter Jan van Bijlert's Young Woman Playing with a Cat (1630-1635). The book also includes discussions of Victorian artist Couldery's playful paintings, the avant-garde cats of Klee and Picasso, and Russian cartoon drawings satirizing the funeral of Peter the Great. The book's scope encompasses not only Western art but also tribal art from pre-Columbian Latin America, art from India and Japan, and contemporary Malaysian wall murals of the 101 Lost Kittens Project. Morris strikes a perfect balance between scholarly information and pop culture history, and, as a result, this book will appeal to cat lovers and art historians alike. Color illus. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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