Kat op de rug gezien 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this print of cats, sometime in the early 20th century. Look at the soft shapes of the cats against the dark background. What a sense of stillness. I wonder what de Vries was thinking when he made this? I imagine him watching his own cats, trying to capture their essence in the simplest way possible. The texture of the print almost feels like fur, doesn't it? You can imagine the velvety feel of the cat’s coat. The limited palette – the contrast between light and dark – emphasizes the forms. I am reminded of other artists who were inspired by cats, like Théophile Steinlen, but de Vries' approach feels more intimate, quieter. Artists are always looking at each other, learning from each other, aren't they? Each one adding their own little something. I find it so satisfying that a simple image like this can hold so much feeling. It reminds me that art is an ongoing conversation, a way of seeing, and feeling the world around us.