Sleeping cat

A calico cat has curled itself into a snug ball, nose tucked toward its tail, sound asleep. Its eyes are closed in two soft curved lines, and a bright red collar stands out against the smoky grays and blacks of its coat. Painted by Kōno Bairei in 1890, the work shows off the loose, confident brushwork at the heart of Japanese ink painting. Just a handful of strokes give us the pointed ears, the fine whiskers, and the gentle curve of the sleeping back.

Working in Kyoto, Bairei earned a strong reputation as both a painter and a teacher, with a special love for birds, flowers, and animals. He preferred to catch his subjects in easy, unguarded moments rather than posed and formal ones, and this drowsy cat fits that habit perfectly. Rather than crowd the picture, he leaves much of the paper bare, so nothing competes with the animal itself. The result is a modest little scene, though it lands on a truth any cat owner will recognize at once: few things look as thoroughly at peace as a napping cat.