Cat 1906

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this drawing of a cat, simply enough, with crayon and charcoal. The cat seems to emerge from the ground, its form built up through these delicate, crumbly marks. I’m really drawn to the way Steinlen uses the texture of the charcoal to create the cat's fur – it’s almost like you can feel the softness and the roughness all at once. Look closely at the way the light hits the cat's back, how those smudges of white crayon create a sense of volume and depth, really bringing the animal to life. The warmth of the brown paper peeks through, adding this extra layer of richness and atmosphere. This feels very connected to the drawings of someone like Käthe Kollwitz, who similarly found ways to build a feeling of intimacy and immediacy through the humble medium of charcoal. Art’s a conversation, right? Steinlen and Kollwitz, they’re definitely on the same wavelength, exploring the beauty and the grit of the everyday through simple, expressive marks.