Louis Wain: the man who drew cats
Rodney Dale
Below are some pictures by and of Louis Wain…
Portrait of Louis Wain by Collingwood Ingram
(1896)
The Fire of the Mind Agitates the Atmosphere
(1930s)
In this picture brown swirls emnate from the cats like the lines of force from magnets, made visible by means of iron filings. The cat on the left is clearly exercizing an influence on the one on the right — and judging from the latter's expression, that inlfuence is not beneficial. Perhaps this was a reflection of the artist's view of the world, that his body was charged with electricity, that ether — the source of all evil — was present in his food, that he was filled with electricity and had magic powers of healing by the laying on of hands.
A Cats' Party
(Christmas 1890)
…wicked Satisfaction.
Wallpaper Cat
Here the wallpaper is transferred to the cat. A rare and satisfactory transposition.
