Schrijvende kat en watervogel 1831 - 1904

This whimsical etching by Arnoud Schaepkens presents us with an unusual scene: a cat, dressed in what appears to be a ruff, diligently writing, and a long-legged water bird stands quietly in the marsh. The writing cat is a curious motif, isn't it? Throughout history, animals have often been used to represent human traits, think of Aesop’s fables. In medieval times, cats were complex symbols, associated with both independence and cunning. Now, imagine this image as an allegory. What could the industrious cat and the watchful bird be telling us? The cat's act of writing suggests the transmission of knowledge, perhaps satirizing the academic or literary world. Meanwhile, the bird—patient and observant—might represent the natural world, a counterpoint to the cat's intellectual pursuits. It’s as if Schaepkens is inviting us to ponder the relationship between intellect and instinct. Symbols that carry emotional and cultural weight across time.