Zittende kat, naar rechts 1617 - 1681

Editor: We’re looking at "Zittende kat, naar rechts," or "Sitting Cat, facing right," a pencil drawing on paper by Cornelis Saftleven, dating from sometime between 1617 and 1681. It’s a very simple sketch, yet the cat feels incredibly present and alive, even in its stillness. It reminds me of my own cat napping in a sunbeam. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, the eternal feline! Saftleven captures that languid energy perfectly. What intrigues me most is the artist's ability to convey so much with such simple means. Look at the density of the pencil strokes, the layering that suggests not just form, but the very *texture* of the cat's fur. Don't you feel you could almost reach out and touch it? It's less about perfect representation, and more about the artist's intuitive understanding of his subject, wouldn’t you agree? It makes you wonder about Saftleven's own relationship with cats… Editor: Absolutely! I hadn’t thought about the texture quite that way. It's funny, though – when I look closely, the strokes almost become abstract, especially around the cat's back. Did Saftleven perhaps intend for it to feel a little unfinished? Curator: Perhaps, or maybe he knew exactly when to stop, when the essence of "cat-ness" was captured. You see, sometimes the most powerful art lies not in what is shown, but in what is suggested. Leaving space for the viewer’s imagination to complete the picture, allowing us to, quite literally, fill in the blanks. What do *you* fill in? Editor: That's a great question. I think I fill in the warmth of the sun and a sense of contentment. Thinking about what’s *suggested* and the 'essence of cat-ness', I look at it differently now, thank you! Curator: My pleasure. It always amazes me how a simple drawing of a cat can spark so much reflection. A small window into both the artist's world and our own.