Grooming cat 

Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt created this sketch of a grooming cat, with graphite on paper. Without a date, it is difficult to place Hirt's work within a specific socio-political context. Yet, the intimacy of this feline portrait invites us to consider the historical relationship between humans and animals, and to reflect on shifting cultural attitudes towards domestic pets. The act of grooming suggests a kind of self-care that is often gendered as feminine. In observing this cat meticulously attending to its own body, we might consider how gender roles are projected onto the animal kingdom, and how this in turn shapes our understanding of human identities. It offers a window into a private, almost meditative moment. It asks us to consider the simple, yet profound act of caring for oneself. It’s a reminder of our shared vulnerability.