‘Cat’ Is a Purr-fect Celebration of Felines in Art Throughout the Centuries

In 1835, a tortoiseshell cat measuring more than three feet long was enough to warrant a small advertisement in a British newspaper that as “the greatest curiosity ever shown to the public,” it could be viewed at the Ship Tavern in London. Surely a pint of ale was the informal fee to view this extraordinary animal.

It was during the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe that cats became increasingly recognized as worthy pets, beyond their role as mousers. Breweries and distilleries often still “employ” a cat or two to keep the rodents out of the grain. From supernatural kaibyō in Japanese folklore to felines’ divine status in ancient Egypt, the animals have had an indelible influence on mythology, history, and our daily lives for a very long time.

Forthcoming from Phaidon, the book Cat celebrates, well, exactly what you’d expect. From contemporary sculpture and illustrations to early photography and internet memes, the volume runs the gamut of feline personalities and depictions in art throughout the millennia. Yet no matter how diverse the portrayals or how long ago they were created, the creatures’ expressiveness—even ridiculousness—is universally relatable.

Cat surveys an immense range of mediums and eras, from medieval illuminated manuscripts to modern street art. Colossal readers may be familiar with artists like Xuan Loc Xuan, Lee Sangsoo, and Utagawa Hiroshige, among many others, whose multimedia explorations of feline nature fill the playful tome.

Slated for release on February 11, Cat is available for pre-order in the Colossal Shop.

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