A Little Girl Holding Kittens 1886

The artist's six-year old daughter Marie is tenderly holding three small kittens in her skirt while the mother cat brushes up against her legs. The softly polished marble, the touch of fur against naked skin, and the loving gaze of the child combine to create an image that is both sugary and very sensuous. The Western world does not really begin to take an interest in the experiences of children until the late 18th century. Around the same time the cat comes to be regarded in a more positive light as a true pet rather than a casual and somewhat suspect guest. The small statue by Jerichau is in complete contrast to the equestrian statue of Frederik V from the previous century. The depiction is intimate, below eye level, and shows a non-dramatic moment from everyday life: a new way of showing human-animal companionship.