John C. Rigdon

The Artistic Genius of Louis Wain John C. Rigdon

Louis Wain was one of the most popular commercial illustrators in the history of England. Born in 1860, his portrayals of cats captured the imagination of the citizens, and his work helped to elevate the profile and popularity of cats to unprecedented heights. H. G. Wells once remarked. "He made the cat his own. He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world. Cats who do not live and look like Louis Wain cats are ashamed of themselves." His illustrations were so popular that throughout the beginning of the twentieth century, most homes had at least one of his famous cat annuals and many nurseries had Wain posters hanging on their walls. In the time before the First World War, Louis Wain's cats, dressed as humans, portrayed that stylish Edwardian world having fun: at restaurants and tea parties, going to the Race and the Seaside, celebrating at Christmas and Birthdays, and disporting themselves with exuberant games of tennis, bowls, cricket and football. This book tells Wain's story with full color high resolution reproductions of some of his drawings.