Sleeping cats 

Editor: Here we have "Sleeping Cats" by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, a pencil drawing. It's hard to pin down a date for it. What strikes me is its tenderness. They look so peaceful. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Beyond the apparent tranquility, I see Steinlen subtly engaging with themes of domesticity and class. Cats, particularly in late 19th-century Paris, were potent symbols. Were they pets of the bourgeoisie, symbols of comfort and privilege, or did they represent the stray, the marginalized surviving on the streets? Look at the roughness of the sketch – does it invite us to consider the lives coexisting in that urban space, across societal boundaries? Editor: That's a fascinating perspective. I hadn't considered the cats as representing different social strata. Curator: Consider Steinlen's own background and artistic choices. He often depicted working-class life. Do you see this drawing as an attempt to humanize those often overlooked or as a critique of the privileged? Or perhaps it highlights the universal need for comfort and belonging, irrespective of social standing? How does that context shift your interpretation? Editor: I see what you mean. The rough sketch makes it relatable, far removed from something only the upper class could afford to hang on their walls. Curator: Exactly. So the simple depiction of "sleeping cats" becomes a space for dialogue on societal inequalities, visible versus invisible labor, the tension between the domestic sphere and the broader social fabric. Editor: I never would have seen that on my own. It’s amazing how much depth a simple drawing can have when viewed through the lens of social context. Curator: Precisely! Art often invites us to critically examine the world around us. Hopefully, it provides more depth to such a simple subject.