Cat c. 20th century

Curator: Ruth Mary Hallock’s “Cat” is a striking woodcut, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. What are your immediate thoughts? Editor: The high contrast immediately grabs attention. The stark black and white emphasizes the cat’s penetrating gaze. It feels both intimate and a little unsettling. Curator: I find it interesting how cats, even in artistic representations, have been entangled with notions of domesticity and the uncanny. The very graphic nature of the woodcut lends itself to that tension, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely! The sharp lines contribute to a sense of alertness, almost suspicion. Cats have long been symbols of both independence and mystery, qualities perfectly captured here. Curator: A telling reflection on our complex relationship with the animal world, wouldn't you say? Editor: It does make one consider those enduring cultural associations we have with felines and what they tell us about ourselves.