Louis Wain Fact #63:
While superstitions about cats were still quite common in the Victorian era, Wain’s own eccentric beliefs were purely his own. As a matter of fact, he rejected many of the beliefs commonly held by the public. In a 1901 interview with Great Thoughts he says “No, I do not think that because a cat washes her face it will necessarily be a fine day on the morrow. I think they do that merely to complete an electrical circuit.”
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The Eight 'Kaleidoscope' pictures on loan from the Bethlem Royal Hospital, catalogued by Patricia Allderidge.
General note: These pictures have been shown together in one amount for many years and were presumably arranged like this by Dr Maclay. Although it is known that he found 'some' pictures by Louis Wain in a shop in Camden Hill it is not certain how many of these were included, and nothing is known of their origin or when any of them were painted. The order in which they are seen here is entirely artificial.
106. ORIENTAL CAT PATTERN WITH TRIANGULAR EYES
Bodycolour on paper
8 7/8" x 6 3/4"
This design in particular has a Japanese feel to it and stylistically it recalls the Fin de Siecle period.
(note: this image was previously titled "Cat Kaleidoscope VI" on this website)