Art Cat

Cats through the eras of art.

Cats have been charming us with their indifference for as long as we’ve been sketching on canvas. In the background, on the table, or right at the forefront, cats of the past peer out from paintings and sketches, frescoes and prints across art history.

Art Cat is a collection of these painted felines, featuring works from artists across the ages and continents. Japanese prints and German oils, American sketches and Italian murals are all included. The work spans eras and styles, but as different as these cats are, one thing shines through: that we have been obsessed with cats for far longer than the Internet.When the editorial team of Smith Street Books visits museums, their favorite paintings always include cats.