Cats 1910

Théophile Steinlen's painting, "Cats," presents two felines against a striking red backdrop. The black cat, a symbol often associated with the occult, watches vigilantly from the back. The other cat, in the front, shows a sleepy figure. Cats, from ancient Egypt to the present day, have been seen as mysterious beings. They exist between the world of the domestic and the wild. In the Middle Ages, the image of the black cat became linked with witchcraft, embodying feminine guile and independence. Consider, for example, the role of cats as familiars to witches, creatures believed to possess supernatural insight. The emotional weight carried by the image of the cat in art engages something primal within us. It reminds us of the hidden forces that shape our perceptions and cultural narratives.