Among the many motifs of artwork, animals have long been depicted by painters.
Cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, and so on. The works depicting cute, yet full of life and power as living creatures have a great appeal.
In this issue, we will take a look at various expressions of animal paintings, from famous historical works to contemporary art.
Artists who turn pets into works of art
Albrecht Dürer
Wild Hare, 1502
Albrecht Dürer, active from the 15th to 16th century, is considered a master of the German Renaissance for his overwhelmingly detailed depictions and textural expressions.
He used a variety of media, including oil painting and printmaking, but this work is painted in transparent watercolor.
The soft fur of the wild rabbit attracts the viewer at first glance.
Pierre Bonnard
Cat on the Parapet, 1909
Bonnard is considered a representative painter of the Naviste school, an artistic movement seen in 19th century France.
He was heavily influenced by Japanese art, and his work is attractive for its deliberate flatness and attention to beautiful colors.
In this work, two cats are depicted playing on a railing, conveying an air of peace.
He is also famous for the recurring appearance of cats in his paintings, such as in a scene depicting a balcony dining table, in which a cat peeks out.
Pierre Auguste Renoir
Woman with a Cat, 1875
A cat held by a woman with a gentle expression is depicted with softness and body warmth.
The warm light that envelops the two creatures and the artist's gaze can be felt.
The greenish wallpaper in the background harmonizes the overall tone of the painting, and the red color of the sofa and the floral or ceramic pattern resonates with the woman's blush-colored cheeks.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Evening at the End of the World, 1852
Kuniyoshi Utagawa painted a variety of subjects, including ordinary people, geisha, and landscapes.
His observant eye sharply depicts the comical behavior of a cat. This work was published as a woodblock print, and each cat is the embodiment of a proverb, such as "Neko ni shakushi" ("A cat has a ladle").
Takeuchi Seiho
HANNEKO, 1924
A cat licks its own back with a flexibility unthinkable in humans.
Its emerald eyes, along with its soft, speckled fur, give this cat its unique character.
Each hair on its body has been "fur-painted" with an ultra-fine brush called a masking brush, which shows the artist's patience and persistence in expressing the cat's personality.
Tsuguharu Fujita
Self-portrait, ca. 1930
Also known as Leonard Fujita, Tsuguharu Fujita painted many self-portraits. His trademark wavy hair, round spectacles, and mustache are characteristic of his work. The smug expression on the cat's face, which is so funny, is expressed in Fujita's unique milky white color.
Yuko Higuchi
Original cover art for The Cat of the World's First Cat, 2015
Yuko Higuchi is famous for her detailed style of drawing plants, animals, and young girls.
She made her debut as a picture book artist and has collaborated with various companies while creating many book covers.
From February to April 10, 2023, a large-scale retrospective exhibition "Yuko Higuchi: CIRCUS FINAL END" is being held at Mori Arts Center Gallery in Roppongi, featuring 1,500 works. Please visit the exhibition in person.
Exhibition Official Website
Who is Hiroki Takeda? Biography and Features
Hiroki Takeda's Career｜How he developed his unique style
Hiroki graduated from Nagoya Zokei University of Art and Design's Graphic Design Department in 2010, and after two years of pursuing originality, he arrived at his current expression using transparent watercolor.
Major awards include the Grand Prize at the 8th Postcard Contest in 2013 and the Excellence Award at ARTLABO X 2014.
In order to find a view of the world that only she could depict, Takeda went through various trials and errors, such as drawing with pen and ink, applying stickers to her drawings, tearing them, and sometimes burning them.
Through this, he was still drawn to the beautiful watercolor expression that first impressed him, and he studied beautiful color combinations.
Cat Stretching (canvas print ver.)
W 29.70cm x H 21.00cm / ¥35,000
Characteristics
The work is characterized by the meticulous attention paid to the placement of the colors and motifs, always with an eye toward balance.
Various elements such as the size of the flowers, the direction of the flowers' faces, colors, and shapes are intertwined to create a single screen.
Recently, I have always included butterflies on the screen. He says that the butterflies give a sense of small movements and stories on the screen, and make his paintings more compelling.
Cat looking back (canvas print ver.)
W 21.00cm x H 29.50cm / ¥35,000
Commission Work
Takeda currently accepts commission work (work made to order).
Individual customers send us photos of their pets, such as their cats or dogs, and we combine their adorable figures with beautiful flowers and insects to create one-of-a-kind works of art.
She has worked on numerous commissions to date. Hiroki Takeda's originality and imagination are the key to her works.
HANASHIBA (paper print ver.)
W 21.00cm x H 29.50cm / ¥21,000
Let's make your pets into art! How to order
You can check out Hiroki Takeda 's many works and styles from his artist page.
1) If you are interested in commission work to have your pet painted directly into art, please access this application form.
②Enter your name, email address, and the size you would like.
(The price will vary depending on the size)
3) Select the number of pets you would like to have painted in your artwork, and enter any other motifs you would like (roses, chrysanthemums, or any other type of flower you would like).
(4) After you have attached a photo of your pet, you will be asked to choose whether or not to write the pet's name on the screen.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us as we can help you in various ways.
Chat: From the balloon icon in the lower right corner of the TRiCERA ART website
Email: customer_support@tricera.co.jp
Phone: 03-6427-4920
Official LINE
TRiCERA ART members receive a variety of special offers and priorities.
- Discounts such as members-only secret sales and coupons
- Create My Collection by registering your favorite artists
- Receive updates on popular artists, exhibitions, and events
- Receive a weekly newsletter with selected art
- Personal Assessment to find out what kind of art you like.
Please register as a member for free and receive the latest information.
Free Member Registration
