To katte 1826

Christian David Gebauer etched "To katte" depicting two cats, a seemingly simple domestic scene, yet brimming with symbolic undertones. Cats, since antiquity, have been associated with duality: domesticity and wildness, guardianship and independence. Observe how Gebauer captures their languid repose, a visual echo of ancient Egyptian depictions of cats as revered figures, protectors of the household. But venture further east, and we see the cat’s shadow lengthen into a symbol of cunning and mystery, as immortalized in Japanese folklore. This inherent duality—revered protector and enigmatic trickster—reveals itself across cultures. Notice how the sleeping cat seems to guard the other, ever vigilant? Perhaps this speaks to our own primal need for protection. These images, though seemingly benign, stir within us the echoes of ancient beliefs, reminding us that even in the quietest corner, the past is ever present.