Cat 1813 - 1879

Editor: Here we have "Cat," a hanging scroll with ink on paper, likely from the 19th century by Wang Li. The cat itself has this endearing quality about it, almost cartoonish, but there’s something stately too in how it's perched. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Beyond the immediately appealing image of the cat, let’s consider the role of the animal within broader social narratives. Cats, in many cultures, occupied an ambivalent space: domestic companions, but also creatures associated with independence and even a touch of the uncanny. How might that tension inform Wang Li’s rendering? Editor: So, you're saying it's more than just a cute cat picture? Curator: Absolutely. Think about the use of ink. Calligraphy itself carries enormous weight, linked to elite scholarship and power. How does that association shift when used to depict a creature outside the human realm? Does it democratize the form, or does it further complicate the already nuanced status of the cat itself? Notice how the animal and the stone almost become one another; could that fusion be seen as an almost Taoist perspective on how we define nature? Editor: I didn't think of it that way! So it’s almost challenging established power structures through something as simple as a painting of a cat? Curator: It's a starting point for that inquiry. Art is so fascinating because the readings of its significance change according to our perspective. Consider gender too – historically in East Asian art, animal depictions might often link back to femininity; with this in mind, we may be able to understand other interpretations about the domestic sphere and traditional roles that affect art production. Editor: That's amazing. I will definitely be exploring the painting's commentary on traditional norms. Thanks so much. Curator: Thank you.