20 Greatest Japanese Cat Paintings You Will Love

by Jes Kalled & Lucy Dayman | ART

Cat and Lantern, Woodblock Print by Kiyochika Kobayashi, 1886

From Hello Kitty, to cat island, to cat cafes, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Japan is a nation of cat fanatics; but who among us isn’t? Cats in Japanese art are nothing new. In fact the world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji, even featured a cat as one of the main plot catalysts in the story, way back in the 11th century.

From ukiyo-e prints to contemporary watercolors, in the history of Japanese art there’s arguably been no bigger muse than the cat. We’ve taken a deep dive into world of Japanese cat painting to explore this fascinating phenomenon, and bring you 10 of the most charming works of feline art.

1. Beauties After a Bath by Kitagawa Utamaro

Beauties After a Bath, Woodblock Print by Kitagawa Utamaro, 1800

Two young women just out of the hot spring baths are set upon by an adorable kitten in this woodblock print by one of the country’s most highly respected ukiyo-e talents, Kitagawa Utamaro. The artist was already indulging in one of his favorite artistic motifs of beautiful women and mischievous kitties over 200 years ago. Light and playful it’s the perfect encapsulation of Utamaro’s love of the female and feline forms.

2. Woman Holding Black Cat by Takehisa Yumeji

Takehisa Yumeji was known for his illustrations on book covers, newspapers, postcards, and even washi paper. A poet and a painter, Takehisa typically painted bijinga (paintings of beautiful women) with wide eyes and in a somewhat modernized style. In his book The Concept of Japanese Painting he emphasized the value of lines in Japanese art, which he believed was a linear representation of a human’s innermost thoughts and process. Woman Holding Black Cat is a woodblock print of ink on paper. Many iterations and copies of this image have been made since this creation in 1920.

3. The Third Princess and Kashiwagi by Yoshu Chikanobu

The Third Princess and Kashiwagi illustrates a scene from the famous book, The Tale of Genji. In this chapter, the third princess is spotted by Kashiwagi behind a blind, and then falls instantly in love with her. Kashiwagi catches a glimpse of her because of a kitten who brings his attention to the blind she stood behind. In Chikanobu’s depiction, however, we are able to see the Third Princess in full view. Here the third princess interacts with the kitten who, dashing under the bamboo blind, attracted Kashiwagi’s eye, and brought his gaze to rest on her. The kitten, though playful and unknowing, is the story’s catalyst - that eventually leads to violent events…

4. A Woman and a Cat by Kitagawa Utamaro

At the center of the swirls in this woman’s gown is a cat. The translucent rose colors of the silk she wears are especially accentuated by the strong black ink used to outline it. This woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro is an erotic parody of the The Third Princess in the The Tale of Genji. Utamaro takes the viewer behind the curtain, where we can see the Third Princess in the privacy and safety of being unseen, playing and interacting with a cat—and yet we see her, through a male gaze, knowing full well it is the male gaze of Kashiwagi that will soon disrupt this scene and her life as she knows it.

5. The Third Princess with her Cat by Tsukioka Settei

Here, the Third Princess is depicted on a hanging scroll playing with a cat. The detail of her dress is a signature of the artist, who often painted beautiful women in the beautiful, elaborate gowns of the time. There is a floating quality and movement in the depiction of the gown; how it flows in relation to the white kitten who is playing with the yarn the princess holds in her hands, which are out of view. Tsukioka was known for his attention to fashion. The famous literary theme of The Third Princess and the Cat (whose role serves as a key plot point) is again captured here in this hanging scroll. However, unlike other examples that portray a background of onlookers, and an invitation to gaze at her nakedness in a domestic setting, perhaps this scroll translates the innocence of the moment, and a version of reality where she and her kitten are paused in time, unbothered by outside events that could harm and interrupt them.

6. Tiresome by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Tiresome, Woodblock Print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1888

Taken from his series Thirty-two Customs and Manners of Women this famous cat painting by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi is entitled Tiresome and captures the tender love of a woman and her cat. Is it the ukiyo-e cat who is tiresome? It seems more likely that the title refers to what cats always appear to be thinking! As you can probably tell by his masterful use of simple lines and bold color Yoshitoshi was considered one of ukiyo-e’s greatest artists. For more of the stories behind Yoshitoshi’s art, check out the 100 Aspects of the Moon!

7. Cat and Lantern by Kiyochika Kobayashi

A slightly different shift of narrative focus from the previous two pieces, Kiyochika Kobayashi’s 1886 artwork Cat and Lantern captures cats doing what they love to do best: causing playful destruction. Born in Tokyo, Kobayashi’s work commonly utilized a deeper level of color than many of his woodblock printing contemporaries. The use of darker shades gives his work a moody, almost night-time feel that’s hard to exactly articulate but definitely makes it distinguishable from other ukiyo-e print makers.

8. Tama the Cat by Hiroaki Takahashi

Tama the Cat, Woodblock Print by Hiroaki Takahashi, 1926

This print created a little more recently, in 1926 is entitled Tama, the Cat and is the work of Hiroaki Takahashi, a Tokyo-based artist who produced some of his most striking pieces during the 20th century. Some of the most common themes that would appear in Takahashi’s work were nature scenes, Edo-era landscapes, and of course portraits of cats. Although his name may not be as famous as some of his predecessors, Takahashi’s work played an important role in setting a precedent for more modern ukiyo-e styles. His use of shading and blending colors especially, to craft perfectly balanced evening and night skies are unparalleled. In this particular piece however he’s kept it simple, opting for bold block coloring as the image’s main form.

9. The Cat Monster of Saga by Yoshu Chikanobu

Known as one of the Meiji era’s most creative woodblock artists, Yoshu Chikanobu portrayed various scenes and subjects in his work. From kabuki scenes to bijinga (paintings of beautiful women), from battlefields to Japanese mythology, Chikanobu was inspired by it all. Pictured here is the The Cat Monster of Saga, a scene from the legend of the bakeneko (demon cat) who haunted the Nabeshima family, feudal lords of Hizen Province, which is now known as the Saga and Nagasaki prefectures. The legend tells us that the mistress of Saga Castle was possessed by the spirit of a demon cat out for revenge. Each night the demon cat consumed the energy of the Lord of Saga when he slept. To stay awake, the Lord stabbed his thigh with a knife so he wouldn't succumb to the evil cat’s treachery. The method of woodblock printing here feels delicate and yet extravagant in the detail of the cat and its victims.

10. Revelers Return from the Tori no Machi Festival by Utagawa Hiroshige

Utagawa Hiroshige is known as one of the last prolific ukiyo-e artists of his time. Some of his most famous works focused on Japanese landscapes and views. Pictured here in Revelers Return from the Tori no Machi Festival is a cat perched on a window overlooking the view in East Edo. This area is thought to be a gay quarter in Asakusa Tammbo, which was a famous location for geisha houses. Significant in this photo are the lingering hints of human moments: a towel resting on the windowsill, and a ceramic bowl set out for the guest who spent the night. Adhering to ukiyo-e traditions, this painting contains a seasonal aesthetic, and a view of Mt.Fuji. Perhaps most intriguing about this scene is the festival itself which is largely absent and seemingly distant. The cat in the window, perhaps watching it from a distance, is the only connection to the noise and celebration of a festival far away.

11. Cat and Plum Blossoms by Hishida Shunso

Most famous for his soft and delicate depictions of cats, Hishida Shunso made a living from developing his style and form of nihonga and morotai (vague style of painting). In 1979 his painting titled Black Cat from 1910 was used as a stamp. Depicted here is Cat and Plum Blossoms from 1908, where we can see how decorum meets realism using an ink diffusion method. The painting hints at being set on a cold, early spring morning, where a cat appears to be waking or fighting the urge to go back to sleep.

12. Cats by Inokuma Genichiro

The unique world of Genichiro Inokuma is found in his deep love and appreciation for cats—although his paintings did not stop short there. He has an entire museum dedicated to his work called the Marugame Inokuma Genichiro Museum of Contemporary Art. But for now let’s focus on cats. The Showa-era artist even kept up to 12 cats as pets from time to time. It’s safe to say he had a fondness for cats. The motif can be seen in his work in oil paintings, water paintings, and line drawings. Living among them from day to day made it so the felines were his muses and friends. The sketch pictured here is the cover of his book titled Nekotachi or Cats which memorializes about 700 of his drawings and paintings of his beloved contemporaries: cats!

13. Woman and Kitten by Shohei Takahashi

Shohei Takahashi was known for his landscapes and particularly for his prints of Mount Fuji. In 1923 about 500 of his works were destroyed in the fires subsequent to the Great Kanto Earthquake. Much of his later career was spent remaking those prints. Takahashi used many names throughout his time as an artist, such as: Shotei, Komei, and Hiroaki. Woman and Kitten, made in the period between 1929 and 1932, was likely inspired by the male association of femininity and sexuality with cats. Or, in other words, erotic fantasies as displayed on woodblock prints.

14. The Enlightenment of Daruma by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka

Yoshitoshi Tsukioka was a master woodblock printer. Torn between the traditional values of the Edo era, and the new intrigue of the Meiji Restoration, Yoshitoshi focused intensely on refining his craftsmanship skills. The woodblock industry suffered beneath the threats of new technologies like photography. Additionally, Yoshitoshi made a lot of gruesome and violent work that waxed and waned in popularity of the public opinion, his career and mental state suffering as a result. As woodblock printing grew more and more obsolete, Yoshitoshi grew more stubborn, working hardest in his later years. During the 1880s and 1890s he focused his efforts on creating triptychs of kabuki scenes. His untitled series, The Enlightenment of Daruma of 1882 shows a Daruma (Bodhidharma or Buddhist Monk) in a domesticated lifestyle; a cat resting on his back. The cat seems to represent the home life, a relaxed life. A symbol of an undisturbed peace, perhaps. Unlike his work titled, The Moon Through a Crumbling Window, where the Daruma is sitting in deep meditation, the Enlightenment of Daruma depicts a monk who has found the answers, surrounded by domestic bliss that he may or may not be attached to.

15. Black Cat by Tomoo Inagaki

A whole different approach to Japanese cat paintings comes from Tomoo Inagaki an artist who specialized in the Sosaku Hanga movement. Born in the early 20th century, Sosaku Hanga was predominantly focused on the ideologies of pure self-expression, with artists bringing together their prints entirely by themselves. The production of ukiyo-e had traditionally been by small team including carvers, printers, and publishers, but Sosaku Hanga brought it back to basics. Without the weight of traditional motifs, Inagaki could focus all the viewer’s attention on the emotive subject, making a print that is incredibly beautiful in its bold simplicity.

You can find out more about contemporary ukiyo-e in our Ultimate Guide to Japanese Art.

16. Kitten and Wool by Masaharu Aoyama

© Masaharu Aoyama, Kitten and Wool, 1950s

Now it’s time to move into the 1950s, a time when Japan was in a large state of cultural flux following the events of World War II. As the nation became more connected with the western world, artists and stylistic influences from the west began to permeate Japan’s creative output. This piece by Masaharu Aoyama is a great example of the collision of western and eastern art ideals. The drawing of the cat looks similar to that of a classic British painting, however the simple wood grain background gives the undeniable sense of a specifically Japanese cat print.

17. Cat and Mouse by Kyosai Kawanabe

Cat and Mouse, Woodblock Print by Kyosai Kawanabe, 1930s

A nod to the past, but also a look to the future through the form of narrative playfulness is what you get with this piece titled Cat and Mouse by Kyosai Kawanabe. Born as the son of a samurai, Kawanabe became one of Japan’s first-ever political caricaturists. His almost tongue in cheek narrative style clear in this piece, which sees the cat holding a mouse in its paw rather nonchalantly. His ability to perfectly encapsulate attitudes through the posture and movements of the figures in his works garnered Kawanabe a reputation for being one of the most individualistic artists of his time.

18. Leisure Day by Togyu Okumura

© Togyu Okumura, Leisure Day, 1974, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Drawing influence and dabbling in the world of nihonga painting, Togyu Okumura’s slightly more contemporary takes on traditional styles of Japanese art made him one of the most famous watercolor artists in Japan. For this most adorable example of Japanese cat painting, Leisure Day, we the somewhat disheveled character lounging with a concerned expression, in a wonderful demonstration of Okumura’s ability to interweave classic nihonga aesthetics into a rather contemporary image. An iconic figure in the evolution of Japanese art, Okumura always painted with one foot in the past and the other in the future, which is what made him such a celebrated name.

19. Hino Moto no Keko by Tadanori Yokoo

© Tadanori Yokoo, Hino Moto no Keko, 1997

A multi-disciplinarian, Tadanori Yokoo is one of the country’s most eye-catching contemporary artists. Throughout his career he’s worked as print maker, graphic designer, and more recently, a painter. His accessible, yet unique works have garnered him a following beyond Japan, and scored him a solo exhibition in the MoMA in New York. This particular piece balances somewhere between classic and kitsch, however leans just ever so slightly to the kitsch side. Created in 1997, the image is a silkscreen work that mixes both classic Japanese motifs like the waving cat (maneki-neko) and inari torii gates with a cross section of artistic styles, from photorealism to old ukiyo-e type imagery.

10. Cats in Ukiyo-e: Japanese Woodblock Print by Kaneko Nobuhisa

'Cats in Ukiyo-e: Japanese Woodblock Print', by Kaneko Nobuhisa, available at Amazon

Of course what you see here isn’t even a scratch on the tip on an iceberg. Luckily there’s plenty of literature out there to guide you through the world Japanese cat painting. One book we recommend is Cats in Ukiyo-e: Japanese Woodblock Print by Kaneko Nobuhisa featuring many of the curious and fascinating cats of Kuniyoshi Utagawa. This gloriously illustrated collection of 19th century ukiyo-e prints is an excellent jumping off point for both learning more about Kuniyoshi’s cat focused art and the techniques of ukiyo-e printing. You can buy a copy on Amazon here.

Do you have a favorite Japanese cat painting? Let us know in the comments below!

July 23, 2021 | Art, Prints, Painting

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