Twee katten op een muur 1878 - 1917

Theo van Hoytema sketched "Two Cats on a Wall" using graphite and crayon. Notice how the cats' confrontational pose and dilated pupils, accentuated by Hoytema’s crude strokes, might evoke a tense yet curious anticipation. The formal structure is deceptively simple. Hoytema divides the composition horizontally: the top is a pale, textured sky; the bottom, a rough wall. This division creates a stage for the two cats. Their placement, almost symmetrical, emphasizes a visual standoff. The use of contrasting colours is also crucial—a warm, patterned cat versus a cool, monochromatic one—highlighting their differences and heightening the tension. But Hoytema’s formalism also subtly destabilizes the established hierarchy in traditional animal portraiture. He doesn’t idealize them; instead, he accentuates their animalistic intensity. This challenges the values of domestication and control, presenting the cats as subjects of their own domain. Ultimately, the stark simplicity of the composition underscores a broader discourse on nature versus culture. The drawing’s aesthetic effect is intricately tied to its challenge against fixed meanings.