Depictions of Cats in Art

The timeless appeal of cats in artistic expression

Ever since I was a kid, I always enjoyed drawing and painting cats. The way that they contort their bodies in so many different expressive positions is always fun to draw, whether they are curled up into a tight round ball or stretched out creating a dynamic silhouette. As an art subject, cats can be purr-fect models for inspiration (sorry).

Since antiquity, cats have been inspiring artists from from a range of cultures. Whether it’s to convey a quiet, intimate portrait of a sleeping cat, or to portray them as a majestic, divine-like entity, cats are extremely versatile in the way they have been represented. Here are some images of how artists portrayed cats throughout history .

The Gayer-Anderson Cat is a magnificent ancient Egyptian bronze sculpture now located in the British museum (argh), dating to around 600 BCE. This regal feline is adorned with intricate jewelry and features a scarab on its forehead, symbolizing protection and rebirth. Revered as sacred to the goddess Bastet, it embodies grace, divinity, and the cultural significance of cats in ancient Egypt.

The Gayer-Anderson Cat, Bronze (c. 600 BCE),