Walter Anderson created a series of over 200 large scale linoleum blocks in 1945; some of which are over 6 feet in length. Anderson wanted these artworks to be available to everyone and he adorned his blocks with images of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and classic fairy tales. Many of these block prints feature cats as both mythological creatures and common house cats. As Anderson’s daughter, Mary Pickard, comments, when the artist depicted cats they were imbued with the cultural efficacy of folk tale heroes, mythological beings, and cunning tricksters.
Cat and flowers
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print and Gouache
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
While the Museum retains the original linoleum blocks of the block prints - this particular work no longer exists. Displeased with the body of the cat, Anderson cut out the face and destroyed the remainder of the linoleum carving. So yes, there is now a disembodied cat head in the collection.
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print and Gouache
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
While the Museum retains the original linoleum blocks of the block prints - this particular work no longer exists. Displeased with the body of the cat, Anderson cut out the face and destroyed the remainder of the linoleum carving. So yes, there is now a disembodied cat head in the collection.
Puss in Boots
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print and Gouache
Jo Love Little Acquisition Fund Purchase
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print and Gouache
Jo Love Little Acquisition Fund Purchase
Androcles and the Lion
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
Cat and Jay
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
Two of the blocks reproduced in this exhibition are of scenes from the Cat Princess –see if you can follow the story illustrated by Anderson in the two block prints.
There once was a cat that lived in the kitchen of a castle. She fell in love with a handsome prince but she wept because she knew they could never be together. One day a fairy arrived and turned the cat into a beautiful princess. She and the prince were married. On their wedding night the princess spotted a rat running across her bedroom floor. She jumped out of bed and chased the rat! Catching it, she gobbled down the rat much to the astonishment of her new husband. The fairy returned and thought that the princess was probably better off as a cat and returned her to her original state.
The End.
Wedding of the Cat Princess
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
Wedding Night of the Cat Princess
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
Walter Inglis Anderson
C. 1945
Block Print
Image Courtesy of the Family of Walter Anderson
