The Ilyssus!

George Du Maurier

1880

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

About this work

This sketch shows a chubby, relaxed cat lying on its back on a flat surface. Its paws are stretched out, and it wears a tiny top hat tilted to one side. Nearby, a folded cloth or napkin sits crumpled, and the cat’s tail curls loosely. The artist scribbled notes around the edges, like *"Reduce width 3/4 in"* and *"The Ilyssus!"*—maybe a title or joke. The lines are made with pen and ink, layered thickly in some spots to create shadow. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.