The Cat Sent as Messenger

The Cat Sent as Messenger

Allart van Everdingen

1650

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a group of cats in a wild, tangled forest. The trees and bushes are drawn with thick, messy lines, almost like they’re moving. Some cats are walking, others are climbing or hiding, and the whole scene feels busy and alive. The artist used a technique that creates lots of texture—lines pile up to show fur, leaves, and shadows. This style was popular in the 1600s. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.

More by Allart van Everdingen

Artifact World Gallery — 100,000 artworks Get the app