Self Paw-Trait 2022

Camilla d’Errico made this playful ‘Self Paw-Trait’ sometime in the 20th century, probably with oils or acrylics. Look at the dreamy gray sky, and the surreal, rainbow-colored stripes that make up the ground. I wonder, when d’Errico painted this, were they thinking about the cat as a symbol, maybe of curiosity or independence? Notice the back of the kitty has this bizarre, colorful cavity. It’s as if the cat is leaking a rainbow, leaving its inner self behind. I'm guessing it was both fun and a challenge to paint something like that. D’Errico’s work feels connected to other artists who play with the surreal, like maybe Leonora Carrington or Remedios Varo. But here, it’s all about the cat, and what it means to be both cute and kinda strange. It’s a reminder that art is often about embracing the weird and unexpected. We can each see something different in this painting!