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nyone who has ever known and loved a cat understands the allure of their independent personality, subtle displays of affection, inquisitive nature, and graceful constitution. Cats are intriguing, so it is no wonder they have captivated the attention of artists for many millennia. From ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese calligraphy to Renaissance expressions, revolutionary cubism, and modern pop art, cats have been muses for the ages for all manner of artists and art forms.

Throughout history, the representation of cats in art has been as mercurial as the furry felines themselves. Over the years, cats have been seen as everything from godlike to demonic and ultimately as beloved domesticated companions. No matter the depiction, cats remain a favored subject for artists around the world.

Quite likely the earliest portrayals of cats in art come at the hands of the Egyptians, who portrayed cats in myriad forms. In Egypt, cats were painted on tomb walls, carved out of stone, and molded from clay. Thanks to their agility and hunting prowess, Egyptian cats were considered so sacred that gods and goddesses, such as Bastet the goddess of protection with the head of a cat and a slender female human body, were depicted in their likeness. Cats were so venerated in Egyptian culture that when they died felines were even mummified and placed in special cemeteries so they could pass into the afterlife. Anyone who killed one of these sacred animals would be sentenced to death.

Asian cultures also have a long love affair with cats, which have been kept as pets in China for thousands of years. For Chinese royalty, cats were regarded as noble, and for commoners, they were kept for the practical reason of pest control. Images of cats in Chinese art most often revolve around their role as cherished pets who love to hunt, frolic with their human friends and cuddle up for a cat nap. Of all the rulers in China, Emperor Huizong—the eighth emperor of the Northern asurprising number of famous artists have been inspired by their pussycats, including Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci who once said, “The smallest feline is a masterpiece of nature.” Da Vinci made hundreds of sketches of cats, including one of a cat curled up with the Virgin Mary. In another penand-ink study sheet, da Vinci illustrates his skill by drawing more than 20 cats in a variety of poses—from sleeping to stalking to fighting.

The Fall Of Man, by Dutch painter, Hendrick Goltzius, 1616. Goltzius presents the seduction based on mutual romantic attraction. Eve, with her back to the viewer, has already taken the first bite of the apple. She turns with a knowing gaze. The cat, representing the unjust judge, solemnly reminds viewers not to enjoy what they should condemn, lest they too cause more harm than good.

Song Dynasty—seemed to love cats the most. Known to enjoy art more than politics, Huizong is believed to have created multiple paintings of cats himself. Due in large part to their elegant, yet soft silhouettes, cats have remained popular subjects for Chinese calligraphers and painters.

In Japan, the first cats likely came from China thousands of years ago where they were used as mousers on ships. Cats are considered auspicious in Japan, and it is fair to say that the Japanese culture has embraced cats in a big way with cat cafes, cat shrines, and even a cat island. Of course, there is also plenty of cat art in Japan, particularly on the woodblock prints called Ukiyo-e, which translates to “pictures of the floating world,” which were a popular art form from the 17th and 19th centuries. Utagawa Kuniyoshi was one of the last great masters of the art form, and although his pieces spanned a wide array of subjects from landscapes to legendary battles, his feline fixation was reflected in his notable series of humorous and satirical depictions of cats—many of which are personified as people.

Pablo Picasso, arguably the most seminal artist and painter of the 20th century, was famously enamored with cats. Some of his paintings, such as Woman and Cat, depict cats living harmoniously with their humans. Others, however, including Cat Seizing a Bird, capture the dark side of their nature with a ferocious-looking fanged feline ripping apart a lifeless bird—an allusion to the war years.

Swiss-born Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen was one of the great illustrators and printmakers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and a major contributor to fin-de-siècle drawings that appeared on posters and in murals and books. Steinlen had great affection for cats, which he portrayed in sculptures, paintings, and drawings. His most famous cat image is a poster he commissioned for a Montmartre-district cabaret—thought to be the first in France—called Le Chat Noir , “ The Black Cat. ”

Born in Amsterdam and descended from a family of painters, Henriëtte Ronner-Knip was best known for her Romantic-style paintings of pets in domestic settings, primarily cats and dogs. Her most famous works, including Cat at Play , feature cuddly and playful cats in soft, warm colors and feathery brushstrokes that charmingly evoke the curiosity and liveliness of the humble housecat.

One of the greatest cat paintings ever made, Carl Kahler’s My Wife’s Lovers , is an oil on canvas “meowsterpiece” that was commissioned by San Francisco millionaire Kate Birdsall Johnson to immortalize her clowder of precious pussies (and now you know the term for a group of cats!). There are 42 of these beloved Persian and Angora kitties showcased in the larger-than-life canvas.

A gorgeous white Angora is the focal feline of French painter Jean-Jacques Bachelier’s White Angora Cat Chasing a Butterfly , one of his many works featuring cats, dogs, and even bunnies. The painting has a dark background that draws you in and allows the elegant details of the graceful white cat—with its fluffy fur and paw poised to capture the butterfly—to pop off the canvas.

Even modern-day artists are captivated by cats, which continue to show up in all sorts of genres. Just consider the popularity of internet sensations like the utterly memeable Grumpy Cat or Zarathustra the Cat, whose cheeky artistowner launched the Fat Cat Art Project which superimposes Zarathustra into famous works like the Mona Lisa . It is clear that cats are purr-fect subjects for artists who will continue to create art with catitude. ■