Winter- Cat on a Cushion 1909

This print, "Winter - Cat on a Cushion," was created by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Look at the way the surface of the cat and cushion is built up through layers of hatching and cross-hatching. It's a real testament to the slow, additive process of printmaking. I’m drawn to the red cushion, a solid, grounding mass that throws the cat into sharp relief. It looks like Steinlen has worked the plate with a dry brush or a textured cloth, creating a tactile surface that contrasts with the smoother areas of the cat's fur. There's such an interesting tension between precision and looseness here. It puts me in mind of Bonnard, another artist who loved to depict the intimacy of domestic life with pets. Both artists share a fascination with the everyday and a willingness to embrace imperfection. After all, art is just one big, ongoing conversation, right?