A Book of Cats 

Curator: Good morning. Today we will examine Tsuguharu Foujita's 'A Book of Cats', created with pencil. Editor: It's charming! I'm immediately struck by the creature's gaze and the rather impressive shading, creating this soft, almost ethereal quality. Curator: Indeed. The emphasis seems less on naturalistic representation and more on evoking the essence of feline grace and poise. Editor: Look closely. Notice how the graphite mimics the appearance of soft fur? The artist really demonstrates a tangible sensitivity to their medium, turning pencil on paper into so much more than just a sketch. Consider too, what sort of pencil was used; how many grades, what of the tooth of the paper... it tells a tale. Curator: A close inspection certainly suggests an exploration of different techniques; hatching and blending employed thoughtfully to define form and texture. Notice too how the tonal values contribute to the cat's distinct shape and shadow? Editor: And don't you think that the subject matter is a window into both high art and traditional craft? What sort of production supported this rendering? Is there reference to Japanese folklore here in terms of the animal's portrayal? Who was buying art such as this and to what purpose did it serve? Curator: An insightful line of questioning that really speaks to the nature of Foujita's project, reflecting his synthesis of Japanese and European aesthetic traditions, while remaining tethered to the cultural impact and perception of domestic life. Editor: The artist definitely used their material in a deliberate way. I keep coming back to how that influences meaning and impacts our view of the subject's lived experience. Curator: A fascinating perspective, broadening our understanding of the artistic traditions, techniques and applications at play. Editor: A perspective worth revisiting indeed; thanks for lending your formalism to my own humble musings.