Museum Description: Through this museum, you will experience the joy of cats, and if you are not a fan of cats, this museum might just change your mind. As you make your way through this museum you will encounter beautiful artwork of cats. This theme is important to me because of the profound impact my four cats have had on my life. I believe that many people have the wrong idea of cats, and that people also lack knowledge about cats, their history, and the support they provide to humans. I also love the quirky side that cats have, such as their sudden bursts of energy, their quick hunting instincts, and they're ability to see and hear the smallest of things. I tend to show the greatness behind cats through artwork in my museum.
Impact Statement: I want visitors of my museum to experience the beauty behind cats. I also want visitors who possibly have preconceived ideas of cats to be able to expand their minds when it comes to cats and the extravagance they have within them. I want those in the world to see that not only do cats have so many cool attributes and skills, they also provide humans with comfort and joy. I believe that sharing artwork incorporating different kinds of cats in different settings can possibly help to end the stigmatism that cats are violent or that they do not make as good of company as dogs do.
Room 1: Curiosity Killed The Cat
The first room of the museum plays upon the fact that the curious nature of cats has been around for centuries. Cats, unlike humans and most dogs, are curious about the littlest of things in life whether it be a piece of string, a fish in a fishbowl, or what their owners are up to without them. Their interest in the most uninteresting things to us humans spark a sense of our own curiosity within us.
Ohara Koson, Cat and Bowl of Goldfish, 1931
Content: The subject matter of this piece is the cat itself, who is slowly approaching a bowl of fish. The act of the cat slowly creeping upon the fish conveys a symbol of lurking on it's prey for either enjoyment and pleasure of messing with the goldfish, or for food. The message that Koson is trying to portray is that there is an immense amount of built-up curiosity within cats, and that this cat in specific has its eye on the prize and will most likely not stop until its goal of obtaining a goldfish has been achieved.
Tsuguharu Foujita, Couturier Cat, 1927
Context, Content: Tsuguharu Foujita was a Japanese French Painter who created "The Book of Cats" which was one of the most rare and expensive books of it's time. In this book, he created 20 etched plate drawings, including "Couturier Cat", that incapsulated his love of cats and their deep level of curiosity. In this piece, the subject matter is the cat who has it's eyes fixated on sewing material and unlike the last piece, this cat is not driven by food or hunting its prey. It's sole mission is to get it's hands on the most uninteresting item, but it is fascinating that a creature of that size has such an immense desire for the smallest of things.
Tsuguharu Foujita, Autoportrait dans l'atelier, 1951
Content/ Context: The subject matter within the art is the man sitting at his desk drawing or writing with a curious cat sitting on top of him on his shoulders. The symbolism is shown through an implied meaning that the cat wants to be involved in whatever his owner is doing, as he is standing right on top of him and observing what he is doing. The cat clearly does not care about comfort but only what his owner is doing that does not include him. Meaning to form is expressed through the drawing of the man on the floor at his desk trying to get something done, but the placement of the cat on his back, along with the lines and shapes of the fur on the cat, make the cat stand out the most. It affects the overall mood and message that the cat craves the owner's affection and exhibits a lot of curiosity. This brings an overall uplifting and silly mood to the art and shows the affection that cats have towards their owners/ humans. The context behind this artwork shows the deep love and need for human interaction. It also shows that many times cats want to be involved. There is a common misconception that all cats are solitary animals, I believe this artwork shows how in most cases, it is opposite, and they do in fact crave human love and attention.
Ivan Generalic, Cat Near Candle, 1954
Content/ Context: The black cat with the large yellow eyes, who is the focal point of the piece, has it's eyes locked onto the tall vertical candle with a small orange yellow flame. The subtext of the cat staring at something that may potentially harm the cat, is Ivan Generalic's way of conveying the message that cats lack a large sense of fear and obtain an enormous amount of confidence once they have their minds set on their "prize". The flame is intriguing to the cat and it will not stop until it's curiosity of messing with it is fulfilled.
Room 2: Cats-A Social and Loving Creature
It is a common misconception that cats are of an independent nature. Although this may be true for some cats, many cats desire the love and attention of human companionship. The artworks in this second room portray the side of cats that many of do not see- their innate and outstanding devotion, loyalty, and affection they have towards to not only their owners, but also of many strangers.
Ivan Kramskoy, Girl with a Cat", 1882
Form: The medium of this piece is oil on canvas and its style is realism. The girl, wearing a vibrant yellow nightgown, and her cat, drawn with vertical and diagonal lines giving depth and realism to its fur, are cuddling. They are the focal point which expresses the emotional support that cats provide for humans. Dogs have always been known as the primary animal to cuddle with their owners, but this piece shows that cats do the same.
Lilla Cabot Perry, Woman with a Cat, 1901
Content/Context: An impressionist piece, Woman with a Cat, portrays a beautiful orange cat laying on the woman as a symbol of comfort to the cat. The cat is seeking this comfort like many of us do from our mothers, the warmth from the skin to skin provides a safe space for the cat. The dark tones of the background, with the low-key light color of the woman and her gown, make the prominent focal point the orange cat with stark yellow/green eyes. Perry was a master of her time, constructing American Impressionist style art, focusing on portraits and landscapes in free form.
Beatrix Potter, Simpkin at the Tailor's Bedside, 1902
Content/Form: Potter was an artist who primarily focused surrounding her art around her deep love for animals, which started when she was a young child. Potter's piece depicts a cat, drawn with intricate vertical lines, with a cup of tea in hand waiting for its owner to arise for the day. The style of the cat is cartoon like and gives the viewer the notion that the world revolves around the cat, not the owner. We see this real-life depiction every day in cats, as they are a social creature who desire a sense of gratification from their owners. Th mix of cool and warm colors, with specific light upon the cat, depict the cat as the focal point of the piece. Through this piece we can view the overall message that cats are of a social being.
Leon Bazile Perrault, Tenderness, 1900
Form: In this artwork, we see a child holding multiple kittens on her lap, with what appears to be the mother cat standing up to either greet the kittens or possibly to bathe them. Perrault uses a mix of warm and cool colors while excluding any bold colors, along with the use minimal shapes to portray the meaning love and enduring kindness. Both the child and the cat are focused on providing a safe space for the kittens. The large scale of the child versus the small scale of the kittens depicts just how small and fragile the kittens are. This piece encapsulates the tenderness of a child and the precious love both she and the mother cat have for the kittens.
Room 3: Beauty Behind Cats
While cats were once feared during the Middle Ages as an evil and aggressive creature, it was in the 13th century in Europe that this former status was disposed of, and cats became valued as not only an important pet, but a beautiful one. In Room 3, we will explore the notion that not every single cat looks the same, and this what is most fascinating about them. Although many cats appear similar, each are born with different colors, patterns, textures, and size including their whiskers, tails, ears, and overall body shape.
Alexander Orlowski, Head of a Cat, 1823
Context/Form: Orlowksi was a Polish painter, sketch artist, and pioneer of Lithography. The style of this painting is romanticism, which was an era that emerged in the 18th century and focused on the celebration of the natural world. The colors of this piece are a mix of dull tones and warm colors, along with the lack of a background, give a sense of loneliness. From the closed eyes and calm expression that Orlowski painted on the cat's face, we can sense the emotion of tranquility. The short and quick diagonal and horizonal lines of the cat's fur, create a realistic depiction of soft texture and fullness. The elongated strokes of the whiskers also give the realistic illusion that the whiskers are long and skinny. This painting is up close and personal, giving us a real look at the intricate facial structure and fur pattern of the stunning cat.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Sleeping Cat, 1862
Content/Form: The subject matter of this piece is sleeping cat, shown with its eyes closed and head curled into its tail. The cat's body position is tucked in and closed, symbolizing peacefulness and quietness. The horizonal positioning of that cat give the perception that it is widespread and comfortable. The dark tones and lack of vibrant cool colors give the overall feeling of sleepiness. The lack of any background tells the viewer the cat is the subject matter and the focal point. The overall darkness and lack of color bring simplicity to this piece while also accentuating the beauty of the cat's luxurious coat.
Theophile Steinlen, Cat On The Floor, 1902
Form: In this artwork, Steinlen shows a cat resting, which is what takes up most of their days. Cats, once known as a vicious creature, is portrayed here as a peaceful and calm creature. The black and white tones feel soft and add to the calmness of the piece. Although the piece is simplistic, the abstract lines drawn to depict the cat's fur, give a realistic illusion that the cat has different colors, shapes, and textures in its coat. The bold black lines drawn both vertically and horizontally on the cat's face tell us that the cat is peacefully sleeping. With the contrast of white and black and the different shapes and lines on the cats face and body, we are able to appreciate the beauty of the cat as it sleeps.
Louis Wain, Blue Cat, 1932
Context/Content/Form: Wain was an English artist best known for his cartoon-like art of large eyed cats and kittens. Wain suffered from schizophrenia, which many psychiatrists claim can be seen in his artwork. In this specific piece, we may see an example of this as the cat is painted the color blue, which we know does not actually exist. The brightest point of this piece is the large circular eyes on the cat. The placement of the bright white dot on the top of the cat's eyes give the realistic illusion that the cat is looking up and either someone or something. The small horizonal lines drawn to depict the cat's tiny mouth bring a stark contrast to the size of the eyes, telling us the eyes are the focal point. The quick upward strokes of the cat's fur imply the illusion of fluffy fur. The blue color of the cat is a bold contrast to the forest green colored background. Through a brilliant mind and imagination, Wain was able to mix both realism and fantasy within this piece.
Now that the exhibit has come to an end, I hope you are able to see a different side of cats that you may have not seen before. These docile, spunky, and loveable creatures have made such a difference in my life mentally and spiritually. Their quick wit and curious personalities have shaped me into the person I am today. There are many cats and kittens today that require homing, and I hope that I have either influenced you to adopt or donate to their cause one day. Many of the artists included in my museum have other great artworks of cats as well if you are ever curious to dive deeper into the world of cats. At the very least, I hope I have given you the opportunity to view cats in a new and more positive light. Like many of us, cats are of a sensitive nature, and their first initial life experiences may influence their behavior for the rest of their lives. Many require time and patience when opening up to us humans, but once they do the love is always unmatched.