Gerard Reve met de half-siamese poes Justine (genoemd naar De Sade) 1968

This photograph captures Gerard Reve with his cat, Justine, named after de Sade's character. The cat, an animal frequently associated with both domesticity and a certain enigmatic independence, is here elevated. Consider the archaic echoes: Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess, a protector of the home, women, and secrets. Here, the cat is held reverently. Reve's gesture – almost a kiss – suggests a deep connection. Is it affection, a shared secret, or something more profound? Perhaps Reve sees in Justine a kindred spirit—a being of instinct, existing outside conventional morality, much like de Sade's Justine. The name itself is significant; it speaks to a subversion of innocence and a fascination with the darker aspects of human nature, mirroring the way symbols recur and are reinterpreted across time. The emotional power of this image lies in this complex interplay, engaging viewers on a subconscious level.