Cat 1981

Editor: Here we have "Cat," a 1981 watercolor painting by Mary Fedden. It has such a light, almost ephemeral quality, with those delicate washes of color. I’m curious, how does this artwork sit within a broader historical context, what stories might it tell about art and society at the time? Curator: Fedden worked during a fascinating period, where ideas about the domestic, the personal, and the feminine were gaining increased visibility within art discourse. Though her style is often perceived as simply 'charming' there’s a sophisticated understanding of the domestic space, specifically through how that connects with art. A painting like this can be considered a political act—a subtle claiming of the right to represent personal and often female-associated spaces. It asks the question of how something often overlooked is finally elevated. Do you see hints of that claim reflected in how this art work differs from others of its type at this time? Editor: That's interesting. I guess I hadn't considered the act of depicting everyday life itself as something almost rebellious or at least a push back against traditional male dominance in painting, the gaze if you will. Is that why she focused more on personal things, in order to empower feminine issues? Curator: Exactly. Artists like Fedden helped pave the way for a greater acceptance and validation of a wider range of subject matter and perspectives. So the cat, here, is a very deliberately placed piece. Editor: It’s so interesting to consider how a seemingly simple artwork is actually steeped in social commentary. Curator: Absolutely. I've also grown to look at everyday art more acutely and through Fedden's work am finding my new artistic voices.