Cats 19th-20th century

Curator: Steinlen’s drawing, titled "Cats," dates from the late 19th or early 20th century. He used ink to depict these feline figures. What do you think, editor? Editor: Instantly, a chaotic elegance. A whirlwind of ink that somehow lands gracefully on 'catness'. They're both present and absent, real yet sketched like fleeting thoughts. Curator: I see them more as artifacts of labor, part of the thriving Parisian print culture, influencing poster design and illustration of the era, and feeding a public appetite for these domestic images. Editor: Oh, absolutely. One can almost feel the rhythm of the artist's hand. The way he reduces these magnificent beasts to a few economical lines, I imagine a flurry of sketching while watching these guys. There is an amazing economy of means here. Curator: And consider the paper itself. The likely origin in mass production enables access. Reproducibility makes art widely available which fosters community in social and political movements of the time. Editor: True, there’s a sense of democratic approachability. But I can't help thinking, in the heart of it all, what did those cats dream? Curator: Cats dreamt of cream and rooftops I suppose, but beyond that, let’s note how these images function as material indicators for mass visual culture. Their cultural and economic effect through broad distribution in printed media is far more revealing about modern society. Editor: I see your point, yet Steinlen has managed to instill this simple drawing with so much energy and so much catitude, a kind of silent, observant wisdom! That feels significant, too, apart from everything else. Curator: Precisely. "Cats" isn't simply a charming picture. It shows, through the very ink that defines it, the intertwined systems of art, industry and modern life itself. Editor: Well, even if all that industry hadn’t happened, I’d still be moved by those minimalist felines! It sparks such creative life of its own within me. So I guess in a way, these creatures managed to jump out from the artwork, and made a little scratch on my heart, regardless.