Cats in Art: Raminou and Pitcher With Carnations (Valadon)

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art. I'm using some ideas from the coffee table book, The Cat in Art, by Stefano Zuffi.

This is part 7 of 7 of a multiweek study of the cat art of Suzanne Valadon. A French painter (1865-1838), she had quite the interesting life (summarized from Wikipedia):

Suzanne Valadon became a circus acrobat at the age of fifteen, but a year later, a fall from a trapeze ended that career. In Paris, she pursued her interest in art, first working as a model for artists, observing and learning their techniques, before becoming a noted painter herself. She modelled for Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (who gave her painting lessons) and Pierre-Auguste Renoir....Valadon frequented the bars and taverns of Paris along with her fellow painters, and she was Toulouse-Lautrec's subject in his oil painting The Hangover....Valadon painted still lifes, portraits, flowers, and landscapes that are noted for their strong composition and vibrant colors. She was, however, best known for her candid female nudes. A perfectionist, she worked on some of her oil paintings for up to 13 years before showing them....A free spirit, she wore a corsage of carrots, kept a goat at her studio to "eat up her bad drawings", and fed caviar (rather than fish) to her "good Catholic" cats on Fridays....Both an asteroid (6937 Valadon) and a crater on Venus are named in her honor.

 

Image credit Wikipaintings, Raminou and Pitcher With Carnations, 1932, Suzanne Valadon, oil on canvas, held in private collection.

 

 

So, as we saw the last two weeks (here and here), Raminou is lounging, and at the same time relaxed, yet alert and eager for human interaction.  Like he's saying, "I'm a good kitty, please play with me!"

 

The pose is one the bride and I call "conserving," where Raminou's front paws are tucked under to stay warmer.  I don't know in what month Valadon painted this, but I'd assume it was a bit chilly.  Otherwise Raminou would have been sprawled on his back to dissipate heat.

 

So as we reach the end of the Suzanne Valadon series, I can say that I've really enjoyed putting these up and thereby enjoying the paintings myself.  Her style is simple yet with a a lot of subtle detail that you only notice when you spend some time with the image.

 

And, of course, Raminou has been a real delight.  I would like to have known that cat.

 

 

Cats in Art: Miss Lily Walton (Valadon)

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art. I'm using some ideas from the coffee table book, The Cat in Art, by Stefano Zuffi.

This is part 6 of 7 of a multiweek study of the cat art of Suzanne Valadon. A French painter (1865-1838), she had quite the interesting life (summarized from Wikipedia):

Suzanne Valadon became a circus acrobat at the age of fifteen, but a year later, a fall from a trapeze ended that career. In Paris, she pursued her interest in art, first working as a model for artists, observing and learning their techniques, before becoming a noted painter herself. She modelled for Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (who gave her painting lessons) and Pierre-Auguste Renoir....Valadon frequented the bars and taverns of Paris along with her fellow painters, and she was Toulouse-Lautrec's subject in his oil painting The Hangover....Valadon painted still lifes, portraits, flowers, and landscapes that are noted for their strong composition and vibrant colors. She was, however, best known for her candid female nudes. A perfectionist, she worked on some of her oil paintings for up to 13 years before showing them....A free spirit, she wore a corsage of carrots, kept a goat at her studio to "eat up her bad drawings", and fed caviar (rather than fish) to her "good Catholic" cats on Fridays....Both an asteroid (6937 Valadon) and a crater on Venus are named in her honor.

 

Image credit Wikipaintings, Miss Lily Walton, 1922, Suzanne Valadon, oil on canvas, held in private collection.

 

 

Last week's post featured Raminou, and we see him again here.  Although he occupies but a fraction of the canvas, Raminou is clearly the focal point of this painting.  Truth be told, Miss Lily Walton is merely a prop for the kitty.  The title should have been Raminou Sitting on Some Lady's Lap.

 

The differences in facial expression between the two subjects is marked.  Raminou seems relaxed, yet alert and eager for human interaction; Lily, on the other hand, appears distinctly uncomfortable.  She just must not be a cat person, and that's her loss.

 

 

Cats in Art: Raminou Sitting on a Cloth (Valadon)

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art. I'm using some ideas from the coffee table book, The Cat in Art, by Stefano Zuffi.

This is part 5 of 7 of a multiweek study of the cat art of Suzanne Valadon. A French painter (1865-1838), she had quite the interesting life (summarized from Wikipedia):

Suzanne Valadon became a circus acrobat at the age of fifteen, but a year later, a fall from a trapeze ended that career. In Paris, she pursued her interest in art, first working as a model for artists, observing and learning their techniques, before becoming a noted painter herself. She modelled for Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (who gave her painting lessons) and Pierre-Auguste Renoir....Valadon frequented the bars and taverns of Paris along with her fellow painters, and she was Toulouse-Lautrec's subject in his oil painting The Hangover....Valadon painted still lifes, portraits, flowers, and landscapes that are noted for their strong composition and vibrant colors. She was, however, best known for her candid female nudes. A perfectionist, she worked on some of her oil paintings for up to 13 years before showing them....A free spirit, she wore a corsage of carrots, kept a goat at her studio to "eat up her bad drawings", and fed caviar (rather than fish) to her "good Catholic" cats on Fridays....Both an asteroid (6937 Valadon) and a crater on Venus are named in her honor.

 

Image credit Wikipaintings, Raminou Sitting on a Cloth, 1920, Suzanne Valadon, oil on canvas, held in private collection.

 

 

So, as we did last week, we see the kitty Raminou, who must have figured prominently in Suzanne Valadon's life, since he appears by name in the title of at least three of her paintings.

 

Raminou--which, by the way, seems to have no English translation--looks eager and interested in human interaction in this painting.  Or maybe he's just ever-so-pleased to be sitting on that ever-so-fine piece of cloth. 

 

There's a kind of game the bride and I play with our cats: you place something new on the floor or on the bed, anything new, and the cats are powerless to resist sitting or laying on it.  They just can't help themselves, and while of course they know their catness is being exploited and manipulated, they just don't care.

 

I bet to get Raminou to pose, Suzanne Valadon made a big deal out of placing this cloth on the chair or table (I can't quite make out which).  Whereupon Raminou promptly hopped right up there and looked insufferably pleased with himself.

 

 

Cats in Art: Louison and Raminou (Valadon)

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art. I'm using some ideas from the coffee table book, The Cat in Art, by Stefano Zuffi.

This is part 4 of 7 of a multiweek study of the cat art of Suzanne Valadon. A French painter (1865-1838), she had quite the interesting life (summarized from Wikipedia):

Suzanne Valadon became a circus acrobat at the age of fifteen, but a year later, a fall from a trapeze ended that career. In Paris, she pursued her interest in art, first working as a model for artists, observing and learning their techniques, before becoming a noted painter herself. She modelled for Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (who gave her painting lessons) and Pierre-Auguste Renoir....Valadon frequented the bars and taverns of Paris along with her fellow painters, and she was Toulouse-Lautrec's subject in his oil painting The Hangover....Valadon painted still lifes, portraits, flowers, and landscapes that are noted for their strong composition and vibrant colors. She was, however, best known for her candid female nudes. A perfectionist, she worked on some of her oil paintings for up to 13 years before showing them....A free spirit, she wore a corsage of carrots, kept a goat at her studio to "eat up her bad drawings", and fed caviar (rather than fish) to her "good Catholic" cats on Fridays....Both an asteroid (6937 Valadon) and a crater on Venus are named in her honor.

Image credit Wikipaintings, Louison and Raminou, 1920, Suzanne Valadon, oil on canvas, held in private collection.

 

As I promised last week, I proudly present to you all the cat called Raminou.  It is extremely rare for a painter to use a cat's name in the title of her work, so my hat is off to Suzanne Valadon.  Nearly a hundred years ago she broke the cat naming barrier in art (although I seem to recall another named cat, much earlier, but a short search of my archives turned up nothing...gotta dig deeper).

 

Raminou is one big cat, thoroughly covering Louison's lap above and looking like he is about to slide off.  Louison herself looks a bit askance at Raminou, like she is thinking "What's this cat doing on my lap?"  And Raminou looks a bit unsteady, as though he is pondering the age-old cat problem of stay or bolt.

 

I think the issue was decided in favor of "bolt" immediately after this modeling session.

 

 

Cats in Art: Cat Lying in Front of a Bouquet of Flowers (Valadon)

Oops--this post went out unfinished.  Here's the rest of the post....

++++++++++++++++

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art. I'm using some ideas from the coffee table book, The Cat in Art, by Stefano Zuffi.

This is part 3 of 7 of a multiweek study of the cat art of Suzanne Valadon. A French painter (1865-1838), she had quite the interesting life (summarized from Wikipedia):

Suzanne Valadon became a circus acrobat at the age of fifteen, but a year later, a fall from a trapeze ended that career. In Paris, she pursued her interest in art, first working as a model for artists, observing and learning their techniques, before becoming a noted painter herself. She modelled for Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (who gave her painting lessons) and Pierre-Auguste Renoir....Valadon frequented the bars and taverns of Paris along with her fellow painters, and she was Toulouse-Lautrec's subject in his oil painting The Hangover....Valadon painted still lifes, portraits, flowers, and landscapes that are noted for their strong composition and vibrant colors. She was, however, best known for her candid female nudes. A perfectionist, she worked on some of her oil paintings for up to 13 years before showing them....A free spirit, she wore a corsage of carrots, kept a goat at her studio to "eat up her bad drawings", and fed caviar (rather than fish) to her "good Catholic" cats on Fridays....Both an asteroid (6937 Valadon) and a crater on Venus are named in her honor.

 

Image credit The Atheneum, Cat Lying in Front of a Bouquet of Flowers, 26" x 14", Suzanne Valadon, 1919, held in private collection.

 

 

I just love the earnest, engaged expression on the cat's face.  And as we will see next week, I strongly suspect that this subject is none other than Raminou.  Raminou isn't identified by name in the title of this painting, but he is named in the titles of a couple others of Valadon's later works.

 

Regardless, a timeless image that really captures the essence of the personality of the cat.