Kat spelend bij een muur 1646 - 1672

Adriaen van de Velde painted this study of a cat playing by a wall in the Dutch Republic during its Golden Age, a period marked by immense economic prosperity, artistic innovation, and also increasing social stratification. Van de Velde, like many of his contemporaries, often depicted animals in his works, reflecting a broader societal interest in the natural world. However, his choice to focus solely on the cat offers a glimpse into the shifting dynamics of domestic life during this era. Cats, traditionally associated with witchcraft and the lower classes, were slowly gaining acceptance as household pets among the bourgeoisie. Here, we see the cat’s playful energy and its embodied innocence, removed from its traditional associations and placed within a domestic sphere. Consider how Van de Velde’s rendering of the cat invites us to reconsider our relationship with animals and our place within a rapidly changing society. It’s a simple, yet moving, reflection on shifting cultural values and the intimate lives of both humans and animals.