Kat en vier kittens bij een gitaar 1850 - 1898

Auguste Tilly created this artwork of a cat and four kittens by a guitar using etching techniques. The serene image presents the quintessential symbol of domesticity: cats. Cats, creatures of independence and mystery, have been imbued with a range of symbolic meanings across cultures. From ancient Egypt, where they were revered as deities and protectors of the home, to later associations with witchcraft and independence in European folklore, the cat embodies duality. Here, the mother cat exudes a sense of calm watchfulness, subtly echoing the protective roles of ancient goddesses. In contrast, her kittens' playful interactions with the guitar—a symbol of harmony and artistic expression—introduce a motif of disruption and untamed vitality. It is a visual dance of opposites, an allegory to the complexities within domestic life, and a reflection of our own inner struggles to balance order and chaos.