Family of Cats 2003

This is "Family of Cats" by Aldemir Martins, it’s hard to say exactly when it was made or with what, but that doesn’t matter so much, does it? The real question is, how does it make you feel? I like the clear, bright colours and the way the cats are so simply outlined, like a stained-glass window, so that it looks very joyful and direct. It's so nice to see an artist not overworking the surface. You know, sometimes, just sometimes, leaving it alone is the bravest thing you can do as an artist! I particularly like the way the artist has rendered the cats' paws with tiny circles—it's such a small detail, but it adds so much character. Like each paw is a little family of peas. And the colours! Martins has clearly put his own spin on the colour wheel. For me, this painting really chimes with the work of Henri Rousseau, another artist who made work on his own terms. "Family of Cats" reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, a playful dance between ideas and interpretations.