Cats in Art : some famous artists' paintings of cats

Sleeping Girl (Girl with a Cat) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

'Did you know that many of the world's greatest artists have painted cats?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Maybe it's the feline form and the kittenish nature - if you'll pardon the pun - which attracts them', said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Pierre-Auguste Renoir, for instance, with his Sleeping Girl (Girl with a Cat) from 1880. A charming picture, don't you find?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.

Woman with a Cat by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

'Renoir also gave us his Woman with a Cat from around 1875', said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'A delightful painting, yes?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'And we musn't forget his Young Boy with a Cat from 1869', said the gentleman.
'Yars, said the lady.

Woman with a Cat by Edouard Manet

'Edouard Manet, too, produced a work around 1880 which he also called Woman with a Cat', said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Quite different to Renoir's, eh?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'And of course it would be amiss of us not to mention Paul Gauguin's Mimi and her Cat from 1880. That would be amiss of us, wouldn't it?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.

Mimi and her Cat by Paul Gauguin

'Of course it isn't only artists who are attracted to cats', said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Did you know that there are more cats in North America than there are dogs? That over 30% of all North American households own one? Did you know that?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Ah, but it was very different during the Spanish Inquisition when the poor creatures were condemned as evil by Pope Innocent VIII and thousands were burned', said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'And did you know that the cat flap was invented by no less illustrious a gentleman that Sir Isaac Newton?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'And that the world's first cat show took place in London in 1871?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.

Wounded Bird with Cat by Pablo Picasso

'But to get back to great artists and their paintings of cats, did you ever see Pablo Picasso's work Wounded Bird with Cat from 1939? said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Not the kind of picture you'd like to have hanging in your living room, eh?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Er, forgive me for asking, madam, but do ever say anything besides 'Yars'?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Excellent!' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.

Two Cats, Blue by Yellow by Franz Marc

'Naturally the great German artist Franz Marc also gave us some wonderful cats paintings, such as his Animal Cats, and his Two Cats, Blue and Yellow from 1912', said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'And should we forget Woman Cat by Fernand Leger? I don't think we should, should we?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Or Lunch of the Little Ones by Pierre Bonnard?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady
'Or Black Cat by Nina Iticovici?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'And last but not least the millions of painting enthusiasts around the world who must have committed their own dear tabbies to canvas. We musn't forget them either, should we?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.

Cheshire Cat from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

'Well it's been very interesting talking to you', said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'We must have a chat again some time', said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Is there any last thing that you'd like to say?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'What is it?' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.
'Splendid!' said the gentleman.
'Yars', said the lady.

Acknowledgement: Cats Facts from 99 Interesting Facts about Cats