Studie van twee katten 1836

Antoine Louis Barye made this study of two cats sometime in the 19th century. It's a lithograph, a type of printmaking that democratized image production in France at that time. Barye was a Romantic sculptor known for his depictions of animals. This work is exemplary of that. But what does it mean to depict animals at this time? Well, in the 19th century, artists wanted to break free from the strict rules of the Academy and explore new subjects. As the art world was controlled by the Academy, the depiction of animals, genre scenes or landscapes allowed artists to express themselves freely while developing their skills of observation. Barye’s cat study reflects this shift. Understanding the history of institutions and artistic training in France at the time can shed light on Barye's choice of subject and his approach to art making. To find out more, you might look into Salon exhibition catalogs, artist biographies, and critical reviews of the period.