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catistory.bsky.social
catistory
@catistory.bsky.social
3.6K followers 190 following 91 posts
A whiskered walk through history. (Art) historians based in Amsterdam, sharing stories of cats in history, art, and literature from around the world.
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catistory.bsky.social
In very good company

“Four women with a cat”,
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
A white cat is surrounded by four women dressed in what appears to be early-20th-century clothing. Two of the women are seated and two are standing behind them. The cat sits on a stool in the center. All five look into the camera.
November 15, 2025 at 11:40 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Breitner’s tabby cat blends into the Persian carpets of his studio, often resting beneath the sofa where Geesje Kwak reclines. Though never painted, the cat appears in his photos and sketches. Breitner’s fondness for his feline muses reflected his view of cats as free, independent spirits.
In this black and white photo, a woman in an ornate dress reclines on a couch, leaning on one elbow. Ornate rugs and textiles cover the couch and floor. A cat sits on the floor near her. A close up of the cat from the previous photo. In another black and white photo, a woman in an ornate dress reclines on a couch, leaning on her back and holding up and object. Ornate rugs and textiles cover the couch and floor. A cat is curled up on the floor near her. A painting that mimics the previous photos. The painting is in color, and the woman’s dress is a vivid red.
November 9, 2025 at 9:34 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Especially for this autumn Caturday, a beautifully lit early cat-picture of a beautiful cat: “Cat licking its paw”, 1895. Taken by a photographer in Thomas Anshutz's circle, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
A white cat is licking its paw in the morning light
November 1, 2025 at 2:22 PM
catistory.bsky.social
On January 13, 1960, a dyke north of Amsterdam burst, flooding a suburb and forcing residents to flee. Amid the chaos, many clutched their pets as lifeboats carried them to safety. In the days that followed, hundreds of animals, around fifty cats among them, were rescued from the rising waters.
October 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM
catistory.bsky.social
A cat stealing the show at a cat show in The Netherlands in 1987, photographed by Thom van Amsterdam, Westbrabants Archive
A white cat sits beautifully and proudly on a cage during a cat show. Several people around the cage admire the cat
October 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
catistory.bsky.social
In the 20th century, animal shelters evolved into places where animals were rescued for potential adoption, offering them a chance to embark on a new life.

One notable example is the renowned Poezenboot (Cat Boat) in Amsterdam.

🎥 Beeld en Geluid, 1978
October 11, 2025 at 3:02 PM
catistory.bsky.social
The history of cats isn’t always pleasant. In the 18th and 19th centuries, ‘cat clubbing’—beating a barrel with a cat inside—was common entertainment. Though banned in cities, people, including the upper class, still gathered outside Amsterdam to watch. It remained popular until the late 1800s.
A black and white sketch of three men. A barrel hangs between a tree, and one man stands about to swing a bat at a barrel. A sketch shows people standing with are. A barrel hangs between two posts.
October 11, 2025 at 1:04 PM
catistory.bsky.social
A cat nurses her kittens — and a baby rabbit. A tender act of natural inclusivity. 1971, the Netherlands, West-Brabant Archives, The Netherlands
A very small kitten and a baby rabbit lie on a table with a mother cat. At the table, a man and a woman look tenderly at the animals; the man is holding another kitten.
October 4, 2025 at 12:32 PM
catistory.bsky.social
Picasso’s Cat Catching a Bird (1939) may seem simple, but many see it as a symbol of war. Painted as fascism rose in Europe, the violent cat and struggling bird conjure conflict and fear. Picasso said war shaped his art. In a later painting, the bird lies dead.
A color painting of a cat with a bird in its mouth
September 27, 2025 at 8:17 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Purfection.
1939, most probably Hungary, Fortepan archives
An elderly woman sits on a chair in a room next to a table, with a cat on her lap. They look at each other tenderly. The sun shines on them
September 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
catistory.bsky.social
When you can’t find anything good on Netflix and need something else to watch …

📷 1960, Donegal, Ireland, photographed by Denis Tynan, National Library of Ireland
A black and white photograph shows a cat watching laundry in a washing machine.
September 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
catistory.bsky.social
In September 1919, Escher moved to Haarlem to study architecture. His landlady in Haarlem gifted Escher a white cat, who stayed his pet and companion during his student years. Escher lovingly portrayed his cat in several wood cuts.

Etches of a white cat by M.C. Escher
September 7, 2025 at 5:53 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Photographic art, probably from the 1970s or early 80s. National archive, The Netherlands
A cat is watching an old-fashioned TV which shows a person on stage and the line “You can’t stop the revolution”
August 30, 2025 at 12:20 PM
catistory.bsky.social
Gabriel Metsu depicted genre scenes featuring cats with evident delight. In contrast to many other 17th-century paintings featuring cats, Metsu did not put the playful antics of cats centre stage, but tender moments, with cats about to jump on a woman's lap or affectionately sitting at her feet.
August 23, 2025 at 8:17 AM
catistory.bsky.social
During the medieval period, Christian monks frequently had feline companions. They often walked over manuscripts, but seldom did they dip their paws in ink before doing so, as seen in this Croatian manuscript.

📜 Manuscript, 15th century. Photo: Emir O. Filipovi

🎨 Filippo Balbi, 1855
August 16, 2025 at 8:45 AM
catistory.bsky.social
In Dutch, ‘having a tomcat’ means having a hangover - likely from German roots linking tomcats to drinking. In Jan Steen’s 17th-c. paintings, cats often appear in chaotic, drunken scenes, either as victims or sneaky bystanders eyeing leftovers.

🎨 Jan Steen, c. 1674, Szepmuveszeti Museum, Budapest
In this painting, men and women drunkenly carouse. Cats can be seen on a table.
August 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
catistory.bsky.social
Cats often wandered the studio of Dutch impressionist painter George Hendrik Breitner (1857-1923). On this photo, that served as study for a painting, a tabby cat finds a subtle haven beneath the sofa, where the model Geesje Kwak reclines.

📸 George Hendrik Breitner, 1893. RKD
Photo of Geesje Kwak reclining on a sofa, left a tabby cat
August 2, 2025 at 8:34 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Cats and human love-making: somewhere between indifference, impatience, and disgust

📸 1963-1982. Photo by J. Vigeveno, RCE, the Netherlands
📸 1980s. A scene in Dordrecht. Photo by Ad Molendijk, Regionaal archief Dordrecht, the Netherlands
✏️ 1984. Drawing by Peter van Straten, Rijksmuseum
In this black and white photo, a cat sits on a bed. A couple can be seen embracing on the corner of the room. In the black and white photo, a couple kisses while leaning against a railing. A cat stands next to the couple. In this sketch, a couple appears intimately entwined. A black cat appears to be running away.
July 20, 2025 at 12:43 PM
catistory.bsky.social
Last week we highlighted alley cats—tough and resilient. This week, felines living a slightly more comfortable life: gallivanting through the streets, getting chauffeured around, or just taking it easy at home.
In this black and white photo, a cat stands on a sidewalk looking into the camera lens. A car is parked behind the cat. In this black-and-white photo, a man is driving a car. A white cat sits in the backseat, perched upon a soft looking pillow. In this black-and-white photo, three girls and one woman stand at a doorway and on the stairs in front of the door. The smallest girl, in the front, holds a cat. In this painting, two women in dresses are sitting on a settee. A cat sits between them, and one woman holds up a string, as if to play with the cat.
July 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
catistory.bsky.social
For centuries, cats roamed city streets and alleys in far greater numbers than today. Their lives were often harsh - beaten or killed for fur- yet some found kindness. The many streets and bridges named for cats remind us of how common they once were, and artists’ works reflect their fondness.
In this black and white photo, a cat sits in an alley. A woman in an apron is also visible. In this black and white photo, a dark colored cat sits in a very narrow alley. A young girl in a white dress is also in the alley, peeking out of the doorway of a house. In this black-and-white photo, two cats can be seen roaming in what appears to be an alley or a street. In this black-and-white photo, a black and white cat sits in a back alley.
July 6, 2025 at 5:48 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Street cats (and other hungry cats) used to frequent food shops in search of something to eat. In this 1889 painting and 1960s photograph, cats are shown at the threshold of a butcher’s shop and a bakery, returning from a trip for scraps. Whether they succeeded or not, the images don’t reveal.
A painting shows a black cat at the threshold of a butcher. Animals are seen hanging from the ceiling. A man and a black and white cat stand in the doorway of a bakery in this black and white photo.
June 28, 2025 at 9:26 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Cats rolling into the summer!

📸 1980, Groningen, Groningen Archives, The Netherlands
📸 1968, photographer by Cor Out, The Netherlands
📸 2014, photographer by Petr Bena
📸 2009, Kyoto, Japan
🎥 Catistory-Frank on his way to an Amsterdam park
June 21, 2025 at 9:36 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Shoulder cats!

Some cats enjoy sitting, hanging, or travelling on the shoulder of the human(s) they live with. It’s a symbol of trust, laziness, and love. The more opportunistic cats simply enjoy the high vantage point. Either way, it’s usually a win-win for both involved.
In this black and white photo, a multicolored cat sits on top of the shoulder of a woman. The woman is standing outside, has light colored hair, and is wearing a sweater and a skirt. In this black and white photo, a man is facing away from the camera while pulling a cart behind him. A cat sits perched on his shoulders. There are two bikes visible. In this black-and-white photo, a white cat sits perched on the shoulder of a woman in a dress. In this black-and-white photo, you can see half of the face of a woman. A Siamese cat is sitting on her shoulder.
June 15, 2025 at 7:30 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Cats & their families!
📸 1910-1922. ‘Portrait of the family Harting’, RKD, NL
📸 1922. Three generations women and a cat, RKD, NL
📸 1920-1930. Family with cat, possibly in Suriname or Indonesia, Rijksmuseum, NL
📸 Ca 1930. ‘Aunt Julie and aunt Louise’ with their cats, Heritage Leiden, NL
In this black-and-white photo, four adults sit at a table. A young man stands behind them with a cat in his arms. In this black-and-white photo, two adult women are seated on chairs. Three young girls in dresses are standing. One of them has a cat in her arms. This black and white photo features a family. A mother in a dress sits in a chair, and a father in a suit also sits in a chair. A young boy is standing. A young girl is standing behind a table that has a cat on it. In this black-and-white photo, two older women are seated at a table. The table has dishes on it. Each woman is holding a cat.
June 7, 2025 at 6:42 AM
catistory.bsky.social
Helen Gurley Brown spent decades as editor at Cosmo pushing a bold vision: independence, ambition, and pleasure on women’s own terms. Her style - sexy, sparkly, girlish - often clashed with 1970s feminist politics. She also loved cats. Her cat Lovey, once a sketch, is carved on her headstone.
In this black and white photo, a woman with short brown hair sits at a desk. A typewriter is on the desk; a phone can be seen behind her on a windowsill. In the foreground of the photo is a black and white cat, which seemingly stares at the photographer. In this black and white photo, a woman with short brown hair in a black dress holds two siamese cats. She stands in front of a mirror placed on a mantle; a lamp sits on the mantle. In this black and white photo, a woman with short brown hair and a sleeveless gown sits next to a man in a suit on a white couch. A siamese cat also joins them on the couch. A gravestone with the text 'Helen Gurley Brown, Feb 18 1922, Aug 13 2012'. A sketch of a cat is on the gravestone. Yellow and pink flowers rest in front of the grave.
May 31, 2025 at 7:19 AM