Den tykke kat 1911

Niels Skovgaard made this pen drawing called "Den tykke kat", or "The Fat Cat", around 1911. Skovgaard came from a family of artists who were committed to depicting the Danish landscape and culture. This simple sketch departs from the artist's traditional landscapes, opening up a whimsical narrative. Skovgaard uses an economy of lines to portray a tense encounter between a hissing, puffed-up cat and what appears to be a horse under a sheet. The drawing encapsulates a moment of surprise and confrontation. The cat, the central figure, challenges conventional notions of domesticated animals as docile beings. The horse hidden under the sheet, adds an element of the absurd. The landscape is minimal, drawing focus on the tense interaction. The drawing might symbolize the unexpected challenges and confrontations that disrupt our daily lives. Skovgaard invites us to reflect on the hidden dramas playing out in the everyday.