Kat met een vis Possibly 1658 - 1677

'Kat met een vis', or 'Cat with a fish' was created by Wallerant Vaillant some time during the 17th century. During the Dutch Golden Age, artists like Vaillant often turned to everyday life for subject matter. But while landscapes and domestic scenes grew in popularity, animals were usually relegated to symbolic roles. Here, though, the cat is the star. What does it mean to elevate an animal to the level of art? Is it a reflection of changing social attitudes, a budding interest in the natural world, or simply an exploration of form and texture? Consider this cat's gaze – possessive, intense. It reminds us that even in the most ordinary scenes, there are hierarchies, desires, and unspoken power dynamics at play. This work is a reflection on the self and how we relate to our immediate surroundings.