Catland
Robert Dale, illustrations by Louis Wain
Magna Books
Nonfiction, Art/Biography
***+
Description
Louis Wain was one of the most popular illustrators of all time, best known for his "Catland" cats (whimsical anthropomorphic cats) and his eventual descent into insanity. Even today, his works are readily recognized. The author provides a biography of Wain and tracks the history of his illustrations, from his early works through drawings from his asylum days.
Review
This book has been in my collection for a while; I recently realized I'd never reviewed it. For anyone interested in Louis Wain or the "Catland" phenomenon so often associated with him, this is good reading. The author argues against the popular opinion that Wain was manically obsessed with cats. Though not denying the artist's schizophrenia, which is evident in minor details of his art throughout his career, he offers the alternative theory that cats, while clearly a favorite, were just his most-remembered subjects, that he in fact drew many other animals. In any event, this is an interesting look at Wain and the Catland he created. His art not only continues to charm modern audiences, but also illustrates why it's good to study basic anatomy; Wain's rubbery-limbed cats can be downright disturbing.