Studie van een liggende kat en een meisjeshoofd 1849 - 1917

This pencil drawing by Matthijs Maris now resides in the Rijksmuseum, and presents us with a curious pairing: a resting cat superimposed over the profile of a young girl. The cat, often a symbol of domesticity and independence, here exudes a quiet stillness. Consider how the motif of the cat has meandered through art history, from its sacred status in ancient Egypt to its later associations with witchcraft and the feminine mystique in the medieval era. Notice its reappearance alongside female figures throughout art history, often carrying connotations of sensuality or enigmatic charm. In this drawing, the ethereal rendering blurs the lines between the animal and human, evoking a dreamlike state. The cat's relaxed posture contrasts with the girl's seemingly pensive expression. This juxtaposition invites us to ponder the complexities of innocence and instinct, memory and the subconscious, which have echoed across epochs, continuously reinvented and reinterpreted.