Artwork
Winter: Cat on a Cushion (L'hiver: Chat sur un coussin)
Winter: Cat on a Cushion (L'hiver: Chat sur un coussin) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Théophile Alexandre Steinlen. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Winter: Cat on a Cushion (L'hiver: Chat sur un coussin) is a 1891 color lithograph by Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, a Swiss-French artist associated with the Art Nouveau movement and known for politically engaged works.
Subject & Meaning
The print features a relaxed cat on a pink cushion, its gaze directed at the viewer. This feline subject, common in Steinlen's oeuvre, conveys intimacy and warmth through its pose and the artist's color choices.
Technique & Style
Executed as a color lithograph, the work showcases Steinlen's use of a limited palette (brown, black, yellow, pink, and gray) to create a sense of calm. The solid gray background emphasizes the cat, highlighting the artist's compositional simplicity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1891, during Steinlen's active period with anarchist and socialist publications, though the work's direct political engagement is not overt. Provenance details are not provided.
Context
Emerging from the Art Nouveau movement, this piece reflects the era's emphasis on organic forms and everyday life, albeit with a more subdued tone than typical of the style, focusing on domestic tranquility.
Legacy
While not explicitly politically charged, Winter: Cat on a Cushion represents Steinlen's ability to craft engaging, intimate scenes, contributing to his reputation as a versatile artist within late 19th-century French art movements.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Théophile Alexandre Steinlen (November 10, 1859 – December 13, 1923), was a Swiss-born French Art Nouveau painter and printmaker. He was politically engaged and collaborated with the anarchist and socialist press.
