1894 - 1959
Het meisje dat veranderde in eene kat
Gordinne
@gordinneLocation
RijksmuseumListen to curator's interpretation
Curatorial notes
This illustrated print, 'The Girl Who Turned Into a Cat' by Gordinne, feels like a quirky dream from who-knows-when. The soft, muted colors and gentle lines are so inviting, like a well-loved children’s book. The way the story unfolds in little vignettes reminds me of flicking through a deck of cards, each holding a secret. The palette is mostly muted yellows, greens, and pinks that give it an antique feel. Look at the way the girl transforms into a cat. The transformation is illustrated with smoke and scribbled lines, a beautiful blur between the human and animal. The final image shows the transformed cat being doted on by her mother. It's interesting to see a tender image with these scratchy, unsettling lines. This piece reminds me of the work of Redon, who was interested in dreamscapes and the unsettling side of our imaginations. It speaks to art's love of ambiguity, where things shift and change right before our eyes.