[Four Cats] 1893 - 1897

Thomas Eakins captured these four cats in a photograph of undetermined date with a gelatin silver print. Throughout history, the cat has been a potent symbol. In Ancient Egypt, it was revered, linked to Bastet, the goddess of protection, fertility, and domesticity. Yet, venture into the medieval era, and the cat's symbolic path takes a darker turn; it becomes associated with witchcraft and ill omens, a stark contrast to its earlier divine status. In the East, the cat has been a good luck charm bringing wealth and fortune. Consider, too, the emotional resonance these creatures evoke: their independence, their enigmatic gaze, their capacity for both fierce predation and tender affection. Much like the human psyche, the image of a cat is a paradox of light and shadow, constantly shifting, adapting, and reemerging in our collective consciousness.