Cats in the Kunsthaus

I'm the kind of person who has to stroke every cat. Preferably the ones I meet by chance on the street. Whether it's early in the morning on the way to work or late at night after a night out in a pub, cats have a magnetic effect on me. This once wild animal with the fluffy ears has uncompromisingly nested itself in our complex human society and has done so for almost 10,000 years. The cat fascinates me and millions of other people. It goes without saying that cats have a well-deserved place in art. To celebrate International Cat Day (8 August), I therefore went in search of the most beautiful works of cat art at the Kunsthaus Zürich.

All cats are grey at night, but in art they are pretty wow! Throughout art history, there are depictions of Felis Catus; also known as the common house cat. One of the oldest and most presentable tributes to the cat can of course be found among the ancient Egyptians, who worshipped the four-legged friend. But even in modern times, cats are immortalised in works of art all over the world. Renoir, Steinlen, Bachelier, Hiroshige and many more created impressive paintings. And what about the Kunsthaus?

Oil on wood, 1596

Probably the oldest cat in the Kunsthaus is by Pieter Brueghel (II). The painting shows a soldier tying a ribbon with a bell around a sleeping cat. A calm and romantic scene that leaves room for interpretation. Even a warlike soldier seeks out the security of a peaceful cat. Also transferable to today's world, for example on the way to work or late at night after a pub crawl.

Oil on canvas, 1917

A small, white kitten snuggles up to a pair of lovers. In this expressionist painting, Kokoschka shows the many facets of young love: tenderness, security and longing. Thanks to Kokoschka's unique style, the white kitten appears all the more fluffy. As a viewer, you would love to cuddle up to it.

Oil on canvas, 1906

What a portrait! The post-impressionist Henri Rousseau depicts Pierre Loti with a twirled moustache, red fez, burning cigarette and a cat staring at him from the front. A picture that encompasses an entire life. Even 100 years after the artwork was completed, the painting still impresses with its status symbols - especially me, who would love to have a twirled moustache. Incidentally, Pierre Loti was a French naval officer and writer. Loti's books describe his many journeys through Persia and China.

Oil on canvas, 1871

Édouard Manet was a central figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism and is considered a pioneer of modern painting. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, he took his family to safety in the sleepy village of Oloron-Sainte-Marie in the south of France. Shortly after the end of the war, Manet painted this peaceful and good-natured picture. It shows a man leaning dreamily over a parapet. A cat sits next to him, cleaning itself undisturbed with its tongue. Next to stroking a cat, watching a cat is one of the greatest pleasures.

Oil on canvas, 1538

The Swiss painter Hans Asper is best known for his depictions of Zurich magistrates and reformers from Ulrich Zwingli's circle. And that's right: he also painted the famous portrait of Zwingli. In this dynamic painting of a snarling cat, the painter may have created the first cat meme of the late Gothic period. For the painting of Cleophe Krieg von Bellikon, the painter was inspired by a portrait of a woman with two children. He humorously replaced the two children with a dog and cat. The "war" between the animals and the "barking" of the dog allude to the names of Cleophe Krieg von Bellikon.

Not had enough of cat art yet? Then I recommend the extensive work of Louis Wain. The British artist almost exclusively drew cats in every conceivable shape and colour. His cat art was so popular that it paved the way for the modern cat cult of the 20th century. The life of the impressive and unfortunately troubled artist was made into a film in 2021 starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

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