Liggende kat naar links 1821 - 1891

Guillaume Anne van der Brugghen captured this feline form with pencil on paper. Note the curled, almost circular pose of the cat. This motif of the coiled animal, imbued with a sense of self-containment and watchful repose, extends far back. The cat in ancient Egypt, for instance, was revered as a guardian spirit, often depicted in statuettes with a similar coiled posture, symbolizing protection and domestic tranquility. Even in our modern psyches, the image of a curled-up animal evokes feelings of comfort, security, and a return to primal instincts of rest and safety. Across cultures, from the Far East to Europe, the cat appears in myth and art, often linked to independence and mystery, embodying complex and sometimes contradictory emotional states. The artist has tapped into our collective memory, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level, reminding us of the cyclical and ever-evolving role of this enigmatic creature in the human psyche.