("Cat on a Clothes Line," by Jeff Koons. Courtesy of Fondation Beyeler)
People are finally coming around to what we -- the cat afficionado -- already know. Cats, are cool. Artists through the ages have been onto this for centuries, having recognized the wonder of cats as muse. As a matter of fact, one 19th century artist, Carl Kahler, was called upon to paint perhaps the biggest cat painting of all time for collector and kitty fan, Kate Birdsall Johnson. The painting, entitled "My Wife's Lovers," spans six by eight and half feet in size, and goes up for auction next week at Sotheby's with an estimate of $200,000 - $300,000 for the 227 lb. homage. Then there's the auction taking place today, over in London at Bloomsbury Auctions, with four centuries of cat art from the collection of the late Marianne C. Gourary.
In honor of National Cat Day, I present an artistic kitty tribute, with some of the greatest cat art of all time.
("In Front Chimney," By Henriette Ronner-Knip. Source: Wikipedia)
("Angora Cat," by Norbertine von Bresslern-Roth. Image courtesy of the Achenbach Foundation/Legion of Honor)
(An image from the book "The Ship's Cat," by Alan Aldridge. Image courtesy of Knopf)
("Best Friends," by Léon-Jean-Basile Perrault. Source: Wikipedia)
("Cat and Cone," by Joe Brainard. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art)
("The Mediterranean Cat," by Balthus. Source: Wikipedia)
(Untitled, by C215. Located on a wall in India. Image courtesy of the artist.)
("Cat," by Botero. Source: Cafesjian Museum of Art in Yerevan, Armenia)
("Julie Manet," or "L'enfant au chat [Child with cat]" by Pierre Auguste Renoir. Source: Musee D'Orsay)
"The Widow," by Frederick Dielman. Source: Wikipedia)
("Cat and Bowl of Goldfish," by Ohara Koson. Source: Wikiart)
("Cat with Statue of Cat," by Arnold Genthe. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
("Felix the Cat," Kuna People. Source: Los Angeles County Museum of Art)
(Work by Martin Eder. Courtesy Hauser and Wirth)
("The Cats Party," by Tom Mouser. Source: Bloomsbury Auctions)
(Anonymous statue of seated cat, circa 350 BC.)
"A Small Girl with a Cat," by Theophile Alexandre Steinlen. Source: Wikipedia)
("Two Cats Playing with String," by Beno Bolderadsky. Source: The Great Cat)
("In the Vineyard," by Louis Wain. Source: Chris Beetles Gallery/London)
("Cat's Parade," by Tomoo Inagaki. Source: Wikipedia)
("A Cat Named Sam," by Andy Warhol. Source: Wikiart)
("Barbershop with Monkeys and Cats," by Abraham Teniers. Source: Wikipedia)
("The Green Dress," by John White Alexander. Source: Wikipedia.)
("Cat in a Cardboard Box," by Ruskin Spear. Source: Christie's)
("Two Girls Dressing a Kitten by Candlelight" (also known as "Dressing the Kitten") by Joseph Wright of Derby. Source: Wikipedia)
("Tebori Cat," by Horitomo. Image courtesy of the artist)
("A Lady with a Cat," by Giovanni Boldini. Source: Wikiart)
("n°71," by Yvan Favre. Source: Saatchi Art)
("In Her Care," by Daniel Gerhartz. Image courtesy of the artist)
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.