Study of a cat 

Here we see Théophile Alexandre Steinlen’s quick study of a cat in pencil. From ancient Egypt, where it was a sacred animal associated with the goddess Bastet, to its later association with witchcraft in medieval Europe, the cat is an old symbol that carries many meanings. Notice how Steinlen captures the cat’s coiled energy with just a few strokes. This echoes the lithe, powerful depictions of felines in ancient art, such as the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, embodying both domesticity and primal force. In Japanese art, cats are often depicted as symbols of good luck and protection, a far cry from their Western associations with the occult. The cat seems to occupy a powerful position in the collective psyche, at times representing cunning and independence, at others, domestic comfort. This duality perhaps reflects our own internal struggles, the tension between our civilized selves and our primal instincts. The image resonates because it taps into something ancient and deeply rooted in the human experience.