Slapende katten c. 1908 - 1923

Ferdinand Oldewelt made this sketch of "Sleeping Cats" using pencil on paper. At first glance, the composition appears simple: two cats in repose, rendered with minimal detail. However, it’s within this very simplicity that the artwork's complexities reside. Oldewelt employs a deliberate economy of line, each stroke carefully placed to define the form and posture of the sleeping felines. The lines are light and fluid. Notice how the strategic use of shadow implies volume and depth, creating a sense of three-dimensionality. The sketch challenges our understanding of representation. The cats are not depicted in photorealistic detail but rather as impressions, capturing their essence through suggestion. This approach aligns with the semiotic theory, where signs and symbols are used to convey meaning. In this context, each line functions as a signifier, inviting the viewer to complete the image in their mind. Oldewelt's sketch invites us to contemplate the nature of representation and the power of suggestion in art.