Social Deconstruction Project: Cats!: Art

Cats in Historic and Modern Art

The most obvious example that comes to mind when thinking about the domesticated cat in art history is the use of cat imagery in ancient Egypt. The most common form of art through which the cat appeared was through the form of a statue or figure, such as the example depicted below.

Bronze statuette of Bastet, circa 664-30 BC

The cat was a very important animal to the ancient Egyptians. Some of their gods were cats or were very cat-like, given physical and temperamental attributes of cats. The artwork shown above is of Bastet, an ancient Egyptian goddess that represented maternal love and protection. She also possesses soothing and nurturing qualities. This is shown by the four kittens that sit at her feet, and by the items that she holds in her hands - a sistrum (a musical instrument) and an aegis (a cult object with protective qualities). The name 'Bastet' literally translates to "she-of-the-ointment-jar" may also be an indicator of her protective quality, since ointments are used to protect health against disease.

In modern art, depictions of cats are common. It seems that one of the perks of being one of the most popular companion animals is that you are integrated into art in all kinds of fashions. A quick Google image search came back with millions of results, ranging from realistic interpretations to depictions of flying poptart-cats. A popular trend seems to be the "remaking" of famous historical art pieces and including cats in them. One such example is shown below, in which Salvador Dali's famous "melting clocks" painting is redone to include a few furry companions.

In this painting, cats are depicted as your typical lazy and aloof pet, as many cats today are known for lounging around in sometimes hilarious postures. I think the inclusion of cats in the remake of such famous paintings indicates how much the domesticated cat has been integrated into our society. By depicting them in very recognizable reconstructions of famous artwork, we elevate them to a 'higher status' as companion animals. By giving them artistic significance, we recognize how culturally important this species is to us.