Artwork
Cat and Mouse
Cat and Mouse is a print by Christian Rohlfs. It dates from 1912 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1912, *Cat and Mouse* is a linocut print by German artist Christian Rohlfs. Executed on cream‑coloured wove paper and affixed to a sturdier wove backing, the work measures within the modest scale typical of early twentieth‑century prints. It exemplifies Rohlfs’s engagement with the expressive currents that were reshaping German art at the time.
Subject & Meaning
One form appears compact and rounded, the other elongated and stretched, their bodies coiled together against a backdrop of irregular, splatter‑like shapes.
The composition depicts two intertwined figures that suggest a cat and a mouse locked in an ambiguous struggle. One form appears compact and rounded, the other elongated and stretched, their bodies coiled together against a backdrop of irregular, splatter‑like shapes. The tension between the creatures invites viewers to contemplate conflict, pursuit, and the blurred boundaries of predator and prey.
Technique & Style
Rohlfs employed the linocut process, carving his design into a linoleum block before transferring the image onto paper. The print is characterized by stark, crisp lines, areas of deep black juxtaposed with untouched white space, and a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. This bold graphic language aligns with the expressionist emphasis on emotional intensity and simplified, forceful forms.
History & Provenance
The work originates from a period when Rohlfs was transitioning from traditional painting toward more avant‑garde practices, aligning himself with German expressionism. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece has been documented in catalogues of Rohlfs’s prints and is held in several public and private collections that focus on early modern German graphic art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christian Rohlfs (November 22, 1849 - January 8, 1938) was a German painter and printmaker, one of the important representatives of German expressionism.
