Kat, met kleurnotities 1864 - 1936

Jan van Essen made this study of a cat, with color notes, most likely in the late 19th or early 20th century in the Netherlands. As an animal study, it tells us about a new kind of relationship between people and animals that was emerging at this time. The rise of the middle class created a large market for domestic pets, and with it, a new kind of popular imagery around animals. The cat's upward gaze and human-like expression invite the viewer to consider it as a companion, rather than a farm animal. Van Essen was associated with the Pulchri Studio, a society of artists in The Hague. We can see how his membership of this institution influenced his choice of subject and the style in which he depicted it. The study may have been preparation for a more formal work of art, but it also has an independent charm as a record of the artist’s working process. To understand the painting better, we might research the role of the Pulchri Studio in shaping Dutch art at the time.