Famous Cat Paintings – A Look at the Best Cats in Art

If you are a cat person, you will definitely enjoy this article! Throughout history, cats have occupied a special and superstitious place in the human-dominated world, reflected in the art of some of the most famous artists. In this article, we will explore a few paintings of cats by famous artists, some of which will have you in “oohs” and “ahhs” by the end of the article! Read on for more about the role of cats in paintings and their role in human history.

Cats in Art History

For centuries, cats have occupied a special place in the hearts of humans. From symbols of sexuality and femininity to good luck and bad fortune, cats have infiltrated some of the most important aspects of human existence, such that they were even equated with God-like power. For the last 10,000 years, the idea of bonding with the cat has evolved into a subject of fascination for felinologists.

Before the fascination of cats in ancient Egypt, researchers discovered that cats have been domestically co-existing with humans in Cyprus with evidence pointing to the fact that cats and humans were forming connections in the Middle East as early as 10,000 years ago.

The Middle Ages saw the affiliation of the cat with bad luck, witchcraft, and darkness, which soon transitioned to the association of cats as loyal domestic creatures. According to a study by IPSOS and Boehringer Ingelheim, over 91% of cat owners claimed that their cat positively impacted their lives, which demonstrates the significance of cats and reiterates their place in human history. The history of cats in art, however, dates back to 2600 BCE in ancient Egypt where many cat illustrations were featured in Egyptian wall art. The domestication of cats is also associated with a sense of home and comfort that simply brings joy to any cat owner.

Famous Cat Paintings

Cat lover or not, cats in paintings offer a quirky view of the way that cats have captured the hearts of many cat owners, so much that they became focal subjects for many famous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci who once said, “the smallest feline is a masterpiece”. Now that you have gotten a brief overview of the history of cats, let us dive into some of the most famous cat paintings in art history! Below, we have compiled a list of the most famous paintings of cats by famous artists, including Pablo Picasso, Pierre Bonnard, and Suzanne Valadon.

Barber Shop with Monkeys and Cats (c. 1633 – 1667) by Abraham Teniers

Barber Shop with Monkeys and Cats is easily one of the best contrasting paintings to that of Cassius Coolidge’s Dogs Playing Poker. Barber Shop with Monkeys and Cats shows a barbershop filled with cats receiving haircuts from monkeys. The cats all don slanted gazes as the monkeys tend to their personal grooming needs. The painting was created by Abraham Teniers who began his exploration of the anthropomorphizing of animals 400 years before people could marvel at the dogs in Coolidge’s work.

Each cat in the painting is presented with their own character as seen in the cat on the right with an arm sling and a cat at the door in the background with a red cape and mysterious-looking hat.

Barber Shop with Monkeys and Cats (c. 1633 – 1667) by Abraham Teniers; Abraham Teniers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A White Cat Playing with a String (1863) by Utagawa Hiroshige II

Hiroshige II was one of the most popular Japanese designers in art history who was influenced by his master, Hiroshige, and specialized in ukiyo-e art. Executed in a bold yet minimalistic way with its hind legs pressed against the ground as it pounces forward to play with the blue string. A White Cat Playing with a String represents Hiroshige II’s unique approach, which stands out from the rest of his work.

This cute white cat with a spotty red collar stands out against the sage green background and is one of the most playful cat paintings in Asian art.

Girl Sleeping With A Cat (1881 – 1882) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

This famous cat painting by famous artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir is one of the most well-known paintings demonstrating the intimate relationship between a cat and its owner. Girl Sleeping With A Cat illustrates the shared peace between a cat and its owner, as they both sleep alongside one another.

The two subjects share a similar facial expression, which leads one to assume that the two probably share the same temperament.

Girl Sleeping With A Cat (1881 – 1882) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir; Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Curiosity (1893) by Horatio Couldery

“Curiosity kills the cat” is a phrase you may have heard often given the cat’s curious nature and affinity to explore the unknown. British painter Horatio Henry Couldery is one of the most famous cat painters in English art history who was so in love with cats that he earned the nickname “kitten Couldery”.

Couldery made sure to include as much attention to detail in his paintings as possible and was a master at rendering his feline characters with as much realistic expression imaginable.

Curiosity (1893) by Horatio Couldery; Horatio Henry Couldery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Couldery was most definitely a cat person since he painted cats far more often than he painted dogs. Curiosity shows three curious kitties captivated by the caged pigeon. One can admire the detail in the eyes of the cats who all appear equally entranced by the curious scene in front of them.

Le Chat Noir (1896) by Théophile Steinlen

Le Chat Noir was established as an artistic cabaret in 1881 by Théophile Steinlen, who was one of the most popular Art Nouveau printmakers and illustrators of the 19th century. During this period, advertising saw a spike in the demand for illustrators and creatives in Paris.

This image of a stark black cat is one of the most well-recognized images of Steinlen’s career and remains one of the most iconic cat images from art history today.

Le Chat Noir (1896) by Théophile Steinlen; Théophile Steinlen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Black Cat (c. 18th Century) by Min-Zhen

The Black Cat is one of the most famous Chinese cat paintings by Min-Zhen who was a famous Chinese painter from Jiangxi, often affiliated with the eight eccentrics of Yangzhou. This cute cat painting is one of the happiest cat paintings you will ever see as it clearly illustrates a black and white cat who appears quite content.

The smiling cat’s rotund body also adds a sense of endearment as one might imagine that the cat had just eaten a rather fulfilling meal!

Woman With Cat (1908) by Kees Von Dongen

Cats have, for centuries, been associated with women and seen as feminine creatures. Woman with Cat is a famous painting of a cat being coddled by a woman with red hair. Another interesting aspect of the painting is that the woman appears androgynous with the cat concealing her naked body, which also conceals questions about her or their gender. The painting was created in the early 20th century in the classic Fauvist style combined with influences of Expressionism and Primitivism.

Kees van Dongen was a pioneering figure in the modernization of portraiture, whose portraits of women tend to focus on the eyes similar to that of cats.

The White Cat (1912) by Franz Marc

German Expressionist Franz Marc was one of the most famous German artists of the 20^th century who was also the founder of Der Blaue Reiter, established in 1911. Painted just a few years before his death at the battle of Verdun, The White Cat illustrates an adorable white cat sleeping soundly on a yellow cushion. The endearing creature is curled up in a C-shaped ball and reminds one of the ways that cat owners try so hard not to wake their sleeping pet cats since cats are known for their peaceful stillness while asleep, which brings a sense of serenity to their owners.

Other intriguing aspects of the painting include the palette featuring yellow and red shades that allude to feminine happiness and violence.

The White Cat (1912) by Franz Marc; Franz Marc, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Raminou (1920) by Suzanne Valadon

This famous cat painting by French painter Suzan Valadon presented a happy tabby ginger cat named Raminou, who featured in many of Valadon’s paintings. Aside from her professionality and affiliation with the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Valadon loved cats and often painted their portraits using strong contrasts. Raminou, the subject of the painting, was Valadon’s favorite cat who appears proud as he sits comfortably on a cloth.

Valadon’s subject matter was predominantly nude female subjects rendered similarly but not with as much splendor as her love for her cat! Raminou can also be seen in another painting by Valadon Louson et Raminou.

The Bachelor’s Party (c. 1939) by Louis Wain

Louis Wain was famous for his eclectic cat paintings, which add some humor and character to the image of cats. The Bachelor’s Party is an oil on canvas painting showing five cats with four of them smoking cigars while celebrating among themselves. The painting sold for close to $13,000. Louis Wain is credited with inventing an elite cat society for British cats, which was a product of his own imagination that helped redefine society’s idea of cats.

In a way, Wain was obsessed with the idea of cats emulating the social behaviors of humans. Wain was also the president of the National Cat Club as well as a popular judge at various cat competitions.

The Bachelor’s Party (c. 1939) by Louis Wain; Louis Wain, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Cat Catching A Bird (1939) by Pablo Picasso

Created in 1939 by Pablo Picasso, this ferocious-looking cat painting features the nature of the cat caught sinking its teeth into a bird. Picasso is one of the most famous Cubist painters whose work often touched on the politics of the time, including the impact of war on the people of Spain. Picasso himself stated that he was obsessed with the image of a cat and bird and the relationship between the two of prey and hunter.

The cat in Cat Catching a Bird appears caked in mud since the paint contains sand. The bird appears to struggle as the cat’s teeth pierce its little body.

The scene is violent yet if one has ever witnessed the act of a cat catching a bird mid-air, one would immediately recognize the phrase “mother nature is sometimes cruel”. This brings another dimension to the view of cats in art history as allegorical expressions for seemingly apocalyptic events.

The palette of the painting also evokes a muted war-time palette that contrasts with the sharp murderous eyes of the cat.

La Poeté (1949 – 1950) by Marc Chagall

This charming cat painting by famous Modernist Marc Chagall stands out for its raw and unique Symbolist style. Chagall often painted subjects related to villages and many lived experiences from a Jewish community and always included friendly felines in his artworks alongside other figures to serve as companions.

In La Poeté, Chagall evokes the spirit of the cat that stands out next to the bright orange sun. Below the cat is a poet who appears in deep contemplation, perhaps embodying the spirit of the cat.

The White Cat (1984) by Pierre Bonnard

This peculiar-looking white cat painting was created by Pierre Bonnard, one of the pioneering members of the Les Nabis post-Impressionist group. The focus of the painting is a white cat painted in a post-Impressionist style that promoted a more modern approach to painting in the 20th century. Bonnard clearly had a love for these feline creatures and the white cat was probably studied for some time before he finalized the painting.

The cat’s elongated legs and wavy tail swaying in the background indicate that the cat is relaxed and happy to be observed.

Le Chat Blanc, the original title in French, is also an exaggeration of the representation of a cat and dons a cunning expression on its face, giving the subject more character. The animal is presented as a caricature for humor rather than a realistic representation, thus reinforcing the modernity of the style. According to Bonnard, art was “not nature” and it is believed that he made many edits and changes to the painting while establishing a final vision.

The White Cat (1984) by Pierre Bonnard; Pierre Bonnard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A Japanese influence is also seen in the painting through an emphasis on sinuous line work and the asymmetrical composition found in the subject. Bonnard was primarily influenced by leading Japanese artists such as Hokusai who also used cats as the subject of many of his artworks.

Cats have clearly infiltrated the lives of artists for centuries, serving as a source of inspiration for many. We hope that these famous cat paintings have left you with a broader sense of how an animal as simple as a cat could be used as the subject to explore new art styles and express imaginative ways of interpreting the relationship between cat and human.

Take a look at our cat paintings webstory here!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do Cats Symbolize in Art?

Cats in art symbolize a variety of themes most closely associated with domestic settings. Other meanings associated with the image of cats in artwork include symbols of luck, curiosity, bad fortune, femininity, sexuality, betrayal, comfort, lust, and a free spirit.

Who Is the Most Famous Cat Painter?

The most famous cat painter is known to be Louis William Wain, who was a popular British artist who created numerous drawings and paintings of cats and kittens.

What Is the Most Expensive Cat Painting?

The most expensive cat painting is considered to be an 1893 oil painting called My Wife’s Lovers, which sold for $826,000 in 2015. The painting was created by the Austrian genre painter Carl Kahler.

Jordan Anthony( Content Editor, Art Writer, Photographer )

Jordan Anthony is a Cape Town-based film photographer, curator, and arts writer. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, where she explored themes like healing, identity, dreams, and intuitive creation in her Contemporary art practice. Jordan has collaborated with various local art institutions, including the KZNSA Gallery in Durban, the Turbine Art Fair, and the Wits Art Museum. Her photography focuses on abstract color manipulations, portraiture, candid shots, and urban landscapes. She’s intrigued by philosophy, memory, and esotericism, drawing inspiration from Surrealism, Fluxus, and ancient civilizations, as well as childhood influences and found objects. Jordan is working for artfilemagazine since 2022 and writes blog posts about art history and photography.

Learn more about Jordan Anthony and about us.