In 200 charming woodblock prints, paintings, screens and figurines spanning three centuries, Japanese art expert Rhiannon Paget celebrates the rich symbolism and surprising stories surrounding the feline image in Japan.

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!

猫と日本美術

日本美術の随所に偏在する猫のイメージを集めて、その表象のされ方を分析する「猫」美術書。世界30以上の博物館に収蔵されている日本の「猫」作品が一堂に会する本書は、日本の芸術や文化に興味のある人はもちろんのこと、すべての猫愛好家にも魅力的な一冊です。
Introduction: A Brief History of Cats in Japan and Japanese Art

Chapter 1 Majestic Mousers
Chapter 2 Domestic Companion or Household God?
Chapter 3 Felines and Females
Chapter 4 The Feline Muse
Chapter 5 Lucky Cats
Chapter 6 Mischief and Mayhem: Monster Moggies
Chapter 7 Cats in Humor and Satire
Chapter 8 Philosopher's Cats, Teachers' Pets and Moggies with Messages
Chapter 9 Big Cats

Full Versions of Cropped Images
Acknowledgments