Julie de Graag was a Dutch draftsman, painter, and graphic artist around the turn of the 19th century. Her refined graphic work and sharply delineated engravings define her work as part of the Art Nouveau movement. Typical for her oeuvre were landscapes, flowers, plants, and animals. The drawing we present today belongs to the Kröller-Müller Museum. Helene Kröller-Müller, the founder of the museum and amazing art collector, added more than 50 woodcuts and drawings to her collection, several of which she purchased directly from De Graag’s studio, including Head of a Cat and another drawing of a cat added to her museum's collection. (Learn more about her life and legacy in art history.)
Throughout her life, Julie de Graag had to deal with both mental and physical problems. This is reflected in the themes of her work, which are occasionally somewhat morbid. A still life with a skull and a pistol is an example of this.
P.S. Cats were loved by artists. Julie de Graag loved to depict animals. That's a match! We want to share with you our DailyArt Animals 50 Postcards Set, full of cats (ok, dogs too) and other animals, also those painted by Julie de Graag.