Cat by Phaidon Editors - A whimsical visual survey of the house cat in art and popular culture

Cat by Phaidon Editors is a richly illustrated visual survey of the house cat across art, history and popular culture. Presented as a vibrantly curated image-led volume, it explores humanity’s enduring connection with one of our most familiar animal companions.

Key details

• Edited by Phaidon Editors
• More than 210 full-page images
• Images arranged into playful pairings
• Foreword by Hannah Shaw (Kitten Lady)
• Includes an essay by curator Leïla Jarbouai
• Cover design depicts a curled-up black cat

Synopsis

Spanning time and geography, this collection brings together depictions of cats from ancient Egypt to Victorian illustration and into contemporary culture, including fashion and social media. The imagery ranges from famous artworks and ancient mosaics to vintage advertisements, classic animations and contemporary couture, with appearances from maneki-neko lucky cats to artists’ pets.

Alongside the visuals, Hannah Shaw’s foreword reflects on how celebrating cats in images can foster an empathetic connection, while Leïla Jarbouai’s essay traces humanity’s symbiotic relationship with cats through the lens of art history. With references to figures such as Andy Warhol, Tracey Emin, Judy Chicago, Utagawa Hiroshige, Jamel Shabazz and Thom Browne, it suits readers drawn to visual culture and illustration-led books.

Advisory panel

• Yekaterina Barbash
• Claire Catterall
• Anja Charbonneau
• Mihoko Iida
• Leïla Jarbouai
• Jenny Pierson
• Hannah Shaw (Kitten Lady)
• Anna Stothart
• BriAnne Wills
• Kristiina Wilson

Additional texts

• Sara Bader
• Yekaterina Barbash
• Tim Cooke
• Anita Croy
• Ellen Mara De Wachter
• Catherine Ingram
• Leïla Jarbouai
• Rebecca Morrill
• Ilana Novick
• Hannah Silver
• Katy Sprinkel
• David Trigg
• Alexandra Zagalsky

Rackhams Reference : FS4YA53JKM