Kat 1907

Willem van Konijnenburg made this print called 'Kat' with ink on paper. The cat looks like it’s seen a thing or two, right? I imagine Konijnenburg, etching away, trying to capture that knowing look in its eyes. He’s using all these cross-hatched lines to create texture, to give the cat a sense of depth and furriness. The cat is framed by a mysterious figure, and some kind of floral detail, it's like a cat within a cat dream. The delicacy reminds me of other printmakers who are known for their keen observation, like Paula Rego or Morandi. It makes you wonder what the cat is thinking, what Konijnenburg was thinking. It’s all about feeling your way through, line by line. And that's how artists keep the conversation going, responding to the world, and to each other. Each mark adds to the mystery.