The Allure of Black Cats

Sleek, sultry, aloof, and mysterious, words often used to describe beautiful black felines. This time of year, black cats may be the main attraction in the spooky Halloween décor in your neighbor's yard, as they are considered by some to be symbolic of Halloween and harbingers of bad luck.  This hurtful and deadly notion has lead to their abuse and high abandonment rate this time of year. Fortunately, there are some cultures where black cats are revered for bringing good fortune due to their ability to shape shift into humans and ward off demons, making them sought after companions, rather than avoided.To honor these beautiful creatures on National Black Cat Day, we are sharing nine pieces (well, of course 9!) of our favorite artwork featuring black cats and the artists who immortalized them.Édouard Manet's 1863 painting, “Olympia” shocked art patrons of the time, not so much because she was nude, but because of the black cat at her feet.  At that time this image was viewed as synonymous with prostitution!Perhaps one of the most recognizable pieces of art to feature a black cat is Théophile Steinlen's “Tournée du Chat Noir de Rodolphe Salis.”One of my personal favorites is the whimsical image of a black cat caught in the litter box by American artist, Sherry Rusinack, aptly titled, “Pee.”You've got to appreciate the determination of the cat featured in Henri Matisse's, “Goldfish and a Cat.”While artist Robert McClintock may be better known for his paintings of dogs, his work titled, “Black Cat Lookin”  features an irresistible black cat, casually hanging out in a sink.Japanese woodprint artist, Tomoo Inagaki, featured cats in much of his work.  “Black Cat 2” features a confident feline against a pastel background.Michael Creese, an American surrealist painter, captured two delightful ebony felines in his piece simply titled, “Black Cats.”Another personal favorite, “Three Black Cats,” is probably one of artist Maud Lewis' most iconic works.And finally, Pablo Picasso's “Woman with Black Cat,” gives all new meaning to “cat in the hat!”