Cat – the goddess and the hunter. On the one hand, she is the epitome of elegance and the natural soother of human anxiety – the purr-fect anti-depressant! Stroke a cat and get in tune with their rhythmic purr and all your troubles will simply vanish. On the other hand, they are aloof, lazy and impudent- definitely looking out for number one!
In our modern age of social media, no animal has captivated an audience quite like the humble house cat. However, cats have been stealing the show for centuries!
Artists have been inspired by our feline friends throughout history. Cats symbolise a lot of different things throughout the history of art. Let’s take a look!
What is the history of cats in art?
It all started with the Egyptians who revered cats as gods and goddesses. For the Ancient Egyptians, cats symbolised magic and good luck. They even mummified their pet cats so they could continue their companionship in the afterlife!
You won’t be surprised to discover that I’m simply in love with this painting – Cat and Serpent – cat art from an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus. The noble character of the cat stands out against the sly snake’s shifty smile. What a story there is to tell from this image. Just what I love from cat art.
The ancient Greeks and Romans also had it spot on. They saw the cat as a symbol of independence and freedom. This resonates strongly for me – what about you? What do they symbolise in your world
I’m saddened to say that religious iconography has not been quite so flattering of cats. Although it was rare to see animals in religious paintings, when they were present, cats symbolise laziness and lust.
Even more of a downturn came during Medieval times when cats – particularly black cats – fell out of favour and were linked to witchcraft and evil.
However, as art became more secularised, the cat came back into fashion. Just take a look at this beautiful painting by American artist Mary Cassat. Quite clearly the cat has been reinstated as the purr-fect pet! Sara Holding a Cat, 1908 is the ultimate symbol of love and friendship between human and cat.
Inspiration behind my Quirky Cat Collection
Our feline friends are so playful and full of charm and character. Cats symbolise love and affection. That’s what makes them so fun to paint and create!
Take a look at this painting by British artist Louis Wain, hilariously titled The Bachelor Party.
Anthropomorphism at its finest and a great inspiration to my forthcoming quirky cat collection which I’m launching on the 31st October 2022.
The first painting in this new collection is called Welcome to the Cattery. It definitely sets the scene for what is to come from this art series. My cats symbolise quirkiness, creativity, colour, collage and character – and plenty of it!
This collection has been taken down since writing this blog post – if you’d see the collection, please contact us using the contact form.
