A recumbent cat

Here's a delicate study of a resting cat, captured with the remarkable simplicity that made Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita one of the most celebrated artists in 1920s Paris. Working with ink wash and minimal line work, Foujita shows us a plump feline caught in mid-stretch or perhaps settling down for a nap. The cat's body is mostly white with soft gray patches on its head and back, rendered with such subtle watercolor that the animal seems almost weightless on the page.

Foujita, a Japanese artist who became a star of the Parisian art scene, was famous for his cat paintings. He kept dozens of cats throughout his life and understood their personalities with obvious affection. This piece from 1925 demonstrates his signature style, blending traditional Japanese ink techniques with a modern sensibility. Notice how just a few brushstrokes suggest the cat's fur, while the carefully drawn eyes give the creature a distinctly alert, knowing expression. There's something wonderfully honest about this portrait, capturing that moment when a cat is both relaxed and ready to pounce at any second.