Louis Wain, Kaleidoscope Cats

Louis Wain (Louis William Wain; 1860 – 1939) was a British artist known for his anthropomorphised large-eyed cat illustrations. They were inspired by his pet cat, Peter, and made to bring joy to his terminally ill wife. His detailed animal illustrations, associated with the Art Nouveau and Art Brut movements, evolved from naturalistic to more abstract and psychedelic over his career. His later works, known as “Kaleidoscope Cats”, were made when Wain was hospitalised for schizophrenia. They are vibrant and intricate, and some have erroneously interpreted them as a reflection of his deteriorating mental health. Dr. Maclay, who discovered them, did not arrange them in chronological order, but in a way that suggested a progression of mental illness. However, Wain produced his psychedelic cats concurrently with his realistic felines. Regardless of the interpretation, these Kaleidoscope Cats remain a testament to his unique artistic vision and his enduring influence in the world of art.