Still Life with Cat

Still Life with Cat by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903, is a revealing example of the artist's experimental practices during his late period, dating from 1894 to 1903. Although categorized broadly as a painting, the work’s specific medium is watercolor applied to cream laid paper, which was subsequently mounted, or laid down, onto cream Japanese paper. This complex material choice underscores Gauguin’s continuous exploration of color and texture outside the confines of traditional oil on canvas.

Gauguin, a central figure in the Post-Impressionist movement in France, often employed flattened perspective and symbolic color, traits evident even in this intimate interior study. The composition eschews deep naturalism in favor of decorative emphasis, typical of the stylistic shifts dominating European art in the late 19th century. While the artist is famous for his South Pacific imagery, this return to the European genre of nature morte demonstrates his enduring connection to the aesthetic concerns developed during his time in France.

The presence of the cat, depicted subtly alongside the arrangement of inanimate objects, injects a subtle narrative tension or personality into the typically static still life subject. Gauguin’s fluid handling of the watercolor medium gives the piece a lightness and immediacy often contrasting with the density of his oil paintings. The work resides within the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Given the cultural significance of Gauguin’s oeuvre, high-resolution documentation of this piece is often made available, allowing for high-quality prints and educational resources within the public domain.