Tabby Cat by Takeuchi Seihō - 1924 - 101.6 x 81.9 cm Yamatane Museum Tabby Cat by Takeuchi Seihō - 1924 - 101.6 x 81.9 cm Yamatane Museum

Tabby Cat

Paint on silk • 101.6 x 81.9 cm
  • Takeuchi Seihō - December 20, 1864 - August 23, 1942 Takeuchi Seihō 1924

The model for this painting was a cat owned by the mistress of a neighborhood vegetable shop owner that Takeuchi Seihō encountered while traveling in the city of Numazu. The cat reminded the artist of one painted by the Chinese Song dynasty emperor Huizong, which stimulated Seihō's desire to paint the animal. Exchanging the cat for one of his own paintings, Seihō returned with the cat to Kyoto where he photographed and sketched the cat repeatedly until he set upon the completion of this work. The soft and silky fur is rendered in layered strokes of black ink and ocher, with further hairs added in ink and gofun (oyster shell white), while the eyes were drawn in azurite, malachite, and gold powder. The cat is so realistic it almost appears touchable.

Beautiful, isn't it?

P.S. If you're up for more animals in art, please check our Animals 50 Postcards Set! And also today, we start our 2024 Calendars presale - you can now get our amazing and beloved Desk and Wall Calendars full of art (and cats) for -25%. Check it out here!

P.P.S. And here's our selection of 15 cats in art history every cat lover would love.

P.P.P.S. Dear DailyArt users, we have a request for you: we are taking part in DesignWays, which is a competition for the best-designed mobile application. If you like DailyArt, think we deserve an award, and would like to help us, please vote for us here! Thank you! :)