Katten c. 1886s

This is "Katten," a sketch by George Hendrik Breitner, now held at the Rijksmuseum. Here, Breitner sketches a cat, its face in charcoal displaying an almost human-like repose. The cat, a creature of domestic comfort, bears a lineage tracing back to ancient Egypt, where it was revered as a sacred guardian of the home and granaries, linked with the goddess Bastet. The motif of the cat, poised and observant, has slinked through art history, reappearing in varied contexts from medieval tapestries to Renaissance portraits. Think of the feline companions in Dutch Golden Age paintings—symbols of domesticity or sly allegories of feminine wiles. Each era imbues the cat with new layers of meaning, reflecting societal shifts and cultural anxieties. The gaze of the cat has a curious ability to evoke a deep psychological response, engaging with our collective memory on a subconscious level. Its posture, whether relaxed or alert, resonates with our primal connection to the animal world, reminding us of the delicate balance between instinct and domestication. As such, this cyclical progression has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings across different eras.