Cats 1914

Editor: This is "Cats," a charcoal and chalk drawing from 1914 by Alfred Schnaars. There's such an energy to it, even though it's just a sketch. What cultural echoes do you hear when you look at it? Curator: I immediately see a return to primal energies. Consider the time: 1914, just before the eruption of World War One. The cat, a frequent symbol of feminine intuition, instinct, and even untamed ferality, takes on a renewed potency. It is interesting, do you see any links to ancient Egyptian art in its silhouette? Editor: Yes, a little! The cat on the left, especially, has that almost regal bearing you see in depictions of Bastet. Curator: Exactly! The cat was sacred. Here, Schnaars seems to tap into that ancient respect, even awe. Notice the cat on the right - the loose lines suggest movement, agility. But why use only sketches, would the image not be stronger if the artist completed it? Editor: Perhaps the incompleteness adds to the feeling of fleeting energy. Like capturing a primal essence that can’t be fully pinned down. Curator: Precisely! And, do you feel Schnaars’ choice of monochrome, charcoal and chalk heightens this primal essence by eliminating the distractions of colour? Editor: It really focuses my attention on the form and gesture, yes! And now seeing that both cats, as emblems of instinct and freedom, become more potent, like a warning against the rigid structures that were about to crumble in Europe. Curator: Indeed. Schnaars seems to be saying, "Listen to your instincts, embrace the wild within," a powerful message on the brink of societal upheaval. A beautiful meditation on instinct against destruction. Editor: Thank you. That really enriches my understanding. I will keep in mind the turmoil present at the time of the artwork's creation.