Divine Felines: Cats in Japanese Art

From Hello Kitty to Maneki Neko, Japan is the epicenter of global cat culture, where felines appear everywhere in art—from playful corners to center stage—inviting good fortune, evoking tales, or hinting at a hidden world of magic and the supernatural. In 200 charming woodblock prints, paintings, screens, and figurines spanning three centuries, Japanese art expert Rhiannon Paget explores the rich symbolism and captivating stories behind the feline image, offering readers a delightful journey through Japan’s enduring love of cats.

This collection features works from over 30 museums and institions across the world, and contains essays on the following fascinating topics:

• Domestic Companion or Household God? Japanese artists represent the great affection and sense of pride which bonds cat owners to their pets
• The Feline Muse: Feline figures as ideal subjects for artists to explore in fluid lines and organic forms, their glossy fur and markings lending themselves to the interplay of textures and materials
• Lucky Cats: Auspicious creatures in Japanese culture, symbolizing health, longevity and prosperity
• Mischief and Mayhem: Japan's rich visual record of cats as witches and feline monsters
• Philosophers' Cats, Teachers' Pets and Moggies with Messages: The felines deployed to illustrate philosophical and religious ideas, and as conveyors of folk wisdom
• Plus much more!

Hardcover / 192 pages

Dimensions: 5.98" x 6.97"