67 Kawanabe Kyōsai 1831 – 1889 Cat with Mouse beneath a Cloudy Moon

Japan, ca. 1920s-30s (early 20th-century version of an 1880s original)

This fascinating woodblock print is an early 20th-century version (ca. 1920s-30s) of a famous and incredibly scarce design by the artist Kawanabe Kyōsai from the 1880s. The scene depicts a short-tailed cat holding a captive rat by the tail. The cat appears almost bored by the game, yet frozen by the beauty of the moon. The mouse seems resigned to its fate, which does not appear to be sealed at this exact moment, providing the image with an inherent drama. As the provided text notes, if any artist could provide a portrait of an ennui-filled cat, it would be Kyōsai. The print boasts an excellent impression, color, and condition. It bears a "Made In Japan" seal on the verso, which was commonly used in the 1920s and 30s.