Slapende katten c. 1908 - 1923

Ferdinand Oldewelt made this drawing of sleeping cats with what looks like graphite on paper. What’s so great is the energy in those quick lines. It's obvious Oldewelt wasn't trying to make a perfect picture. Instead, he was just feeling his way around the shapes of these cats, like a sculptor would test the form of a block of clay. There’s something so intimate and immediate about a drawing like this. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, searching for the right curve of a tail or the soft angle of a sleeping head. Look at the way the lines vary in thickness and darkness, creating a sense of depth and volume. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the image. For me, the cat at the top is the best. A simple circle and two triangles, that's all it takes! This reminds me of similar sketches by other artists, like Delacroix. I think it shows how artists can learn from each other across time. Ultimately, Oldewelt's drawing is more than just a study of cats, it's a celebration of the simple act of looking and drawing.