Cats in Art: The Owl and the Pussycat (Blake)

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art.  Having moved on from Stefano Zuffi's marvelous work, The Cat in Art, I am now using some ideas from Caroline Bugler's equally impressive book, The Cat/3500 Years of the Cat in Art.

Image credit Art UK, The Owl and the Pussycat, Peter Blake, 1983, tempera on hardboard, 10" x 12", held by Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, Bristol.

Bugler tells us:

The unlikely pair are shown sailing away "to the land where the bong-tree grows," their essential supplies of honey and money stashed beside them...Peter Blake rose to fame in the late 1950s as a key figure in the Pop Art movement.  Much of his imagery has been drawn from popular cultures and advertisements, and it has often included collaged elements.

The cat seems quite focused, but not worried.  The distant looks in his/her eyes seems to imply awareness and wisdom of what is to come, but not any fear.  Likewise the owl seems ready, too, for whatever the journey may bring.

Another note.  Some of the images I found of The Owl and the Pussycat were literally quite dark.  This image seems to show best the vibrant colors of Blake's original.


[Gary note: With my Cats in Arts posts, I encourage you to scope out the art appreciation site Artsy (I have no financial interest in the site, I just like it), where you can explore many aspects of the world of art.  You'll certainly be entertained and enlightened!]