Zittende kat met gesloten ogen 1887 - 1924

Julie de Graag created this woodcut of a seated cat with closed eyes. De Graag was a Dutch artist working in the early 20th century, a time when women were making significant strides in the arts, often while navigating a male-dominated art world. The choice of a domestic cat as a subject speaks to the intimacy and the everyday. The closed eyes of the cat evoke a sense of inner peace, a quiet moment of respite. Consider the artist herself, a woman perhaps seeking solace or a moment of calm amidst the expectations and constraints placed upon her. The simplicity of the woodcut medium, with its stark contrasts, adds to this feeling of quiet contemplation. The image challenges traditional, often grand, narratives of art, instead finding beauty and meaning in the small, personal details of life. It invites us to reflect on the value of quietude, and the spaces – both physical and emotional – where we find rest.