Edward Gorey cats

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American writer and graphic artist Edward Gorey (22 February 1925 – 15 April 2000). Edward Gorey cats

Edward Gorey cats
Chicago born self-taught artist and writer Edward Gorey was one of the most important figures in contemporary art. His black-and-white style illustrations decorated editions of such eminent writers as Edgar Allan Poe, HG Wells, TS Eliot, Samuel Beckett and John Updike. Noteworthy, Gorey was very fond of cats and even bequeathed his multi-million dollar state to the Animal Rights Society. Surprisingly, despite the artist’s love for cats, he portrayed them not very often. And if he did, it was only in anthropomorphic style, often in the form of dancers. Meanwhile, his dancing cats has become the real inspiration for jewelers. According to the artists, “Cats, like a ballerinas, extremely elegant, so I like to draw them dancing.”

Books. Cats. Life is good. Stamp

In an interview, the artist made a confession: “People are too complacent and self-confident. Well, I’ve lived with cats most of my life. Now I know that it is possible to see and feel the world the other way”.
The artist spent his entire life alone, and when, in April 2000, he died at the age of 75, there was nobody to challenge his last wish. The house in which he lived for the last fifteen years of his life, has become a museum. There, Edward Gorey cats lived out their lives.

August 1999, Edward Gorey in the kitchen of his home at Yarmouth, Cape Cod

Cousin of the artist, Ken Morton, recalls: “Cats were the only love for Edward. Even more, according to somebody, he loved cats more than people. Perhaps, in some ways, they replaced him family. And in his house cats could do what they wanted. For example, sleeping on his beard, shoulders when he was watching TV, on the table at which he worked”.

Photo of Edward Gorey with cats

In an extensive interview, which the artist gave to the magazine Cats in 1978, he recalled: “The very first cat appeared in our family when I was 7 years old. And when I was at Harvard, I also had a cat. Can not imagine my life without cats, and I remember all of my pets. I can not say the same about the people with whom you come across in life. Usually three or more cats. Not going to have so many, but when I meet with a homeless animal, I can not pass by”.