The Cats (Les chats)
1869
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1869
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows three cats in simple, rough lines. One big cat sits on the left, its fur drawn with quick strokes. Two smaller cats are near a fence on the right, one curled up and the other half-hidden. The background is mostly blank, letting the cats stand out. The artist used a technique called etching to make these marks. It’s like scratching into a metal plate, then pressing ink into the lines. Check out etching to see how artists create prints this way.
