Louis Wain, Pussy Lover

Robalini's Note: Here's an article from 2000 about Louis Wain I wrote for Disinfo...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/konformist/message/1084

Louis Wain, Pussy Lover
Robert Sterling

He may not have cut off his ear like Van Gogh, but there are few artists who are linked to insanity quite like English artist Louis Wain.

Born August 5th, 1860, Wain is best known for his obsession with painting cats. A widower by the age of 26, he had already become well known for his artistic output, and in 1890, he was named President of the National Cat Club. By the turn of the 20th century, his was a household name.

Unfortunately, the cat fancy passed, and his good fortune fell with it. Louis’ eldest sister died in 1917, and some believe the eccentric painter began to crack. Others point to the wild eyes of the cats in his many paintings, and suggest the break from reality was quite earlier. Maybe not: he began accusing his sisters of robbing him, a charge that may have been legitimate. (His real problem may have been a lack of funds.) While mired in poverty, he was certified insane in 1924, a diagnosed schizophrenic.

Despite this, Wain continued painting. By 1930, his work had a decidedly hallucinogenic quality that some believe reflected his insanity. His work was rediscovered, and a fund was started to assist him. H.G. Wells and the Prime Minister became fans of his art. He died in 1939.

Wain has since become popular among two groups: cat lovers (naturally) and investigators of psychology, who saw in his work the snapshots of a man who had a break with reality. That’s a shame, because his work (both the early years and the supposed years of insanity) shouldn’t be treated as a mere freak-show curiosity.

Of late, interest in Wain has dwindled, but if we can help resurrect appreciation of this most unfortunate genius, so much the better. Come on -let’s help create a bandwagon!

Louis Wain: The Man Who Drew Cats

http://www.dangerousminds.net/index.php/site/comments/louis_wain_the_man_who_drew_cats/

Louis Wain: The Man Who Drew Cats
Richard Metzger
07.26.2009

Tags:
Nick Cave
HG Wells
Louis Wain

Often held up as THE classic example of a schizophrenic artist, in recent decades there has come to be greater respect for the talents of Victorian-era illustrator of anthropomorphic cats, Louis Wain.

Wain’s famous felines were born of his efforts to amuse his wife as she was dying of breast cancer. Wain would draw their cat, Peter, with eyeglasses, pretending to read. This style was developed over the years and eventually Wain’s cats began to walk upright and wear contemporary clothes. They engaged in activities like smoking, fishing, playing musical instruments and having tea parties. It’s important to remember that at this time, cats were not widely kept as household pets, mostly they were kept around to eradicate vermin.

Wildly popular in Victorian England, for several years Wain’s drawings and postcards were all the rage, but eventually his popularity began to… well, wane. After being taken advantage of in several investment “opportunities,” Wain’s mental health deteriorated and he was interred at a mental hospital in the poverty ward. News of his circumstances were publicized by H.G. Wells, who organized the funds to move Wain into a nicer hospital with a colony of cats, along with Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald who personally intervened on Wain’s behalf.

In the final years of his life, Wain’s cats became more abstract and less whimsical. His once playful cats began to resemble fearsome, almost kaleidoscopic, Hindu deities. Many psychological textbooks feature drawings from various stages in the artist’s career to show the progression of Wain’s schizophrenia.

Beginning in the late 60s, Wain’s work came into fashion again and has become sought after by collectors. In 2009 Nick Cave, a Wain enthusiast since the late 70s, organized the first showing of Wain’s work outside of England when he exhibited his work as part of the All Tomorrow’s Parties concert series in Australia. Artist Tracy Emin and musician David Tibet are also prominent collectors of Wain’s work. The Chris Beetle Gallery will present a Louis Wain show in Yorkshire, England from August 4th to September 13, 2009

Catland: The Art of Louis Wain
http://www.lilitu.com/catland/

Louis Wain bio
http://lambiek.net/artists/w/wain_louis.htm