This charming gift book showcases the most endearing, quirky and amusing depictions of cats drawn from Tate’s collection.

Divided into key themes – ‘Snap Cat’, ‘Cats on Laps’, ‘Fierce Felines’, ‘Scratchy Sketches’, ‘Painterly Paws’ and ‘Prints and Pawings’ – this little book considers how cats have been revered in culture and have influenced artists over the centuries.

Works of art – including paintings, drawings, sculptures, illustrations and installations – are introduced by a brief introduction text at the beginning of each chapter, adding background detail or additional information about the art, artists and their subjects. Featured artists include: Prunella Clough, John Craxton, Sunil Gupta, Eduoard Manet, Bernard Leach, David Hockney, Edouard Manet, William Blake, Andy Warhol and Alex Katz.

Sometimes traditional, sometimes contemporary, often touching and occasionally telling, placed together these beautiful images create a fascinating and enlightening journey through the visual portrayal of cats in Western art.

Emilia Will is Assistant Editor, Tate Publishing.