Art Deep Dive: Warhol’s ‘25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy’

Andy Warhol Cats Illustration Modern Art Animals

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When most people think of Andy Warhol, they think of giant screen-printed Campbell’s soup cans and Marilyn Monroe’s portrait immortalised through vibrant flat layers of colour. Though it is in some of his lesser known, earlier illustrative works where the artist’s wit and humour shine brightly, that his most endearing and personal work was created.

What’s more, there is a recurring… often purring… theme that appears throughout Warhol’s career, spanning his illustrations of the 1950s through to his silkscreen prints of the 1980s.

Cat from 25 Cats Name[d] Sam and One Blue Pussy, 1954 (yellow cat with kitten)

£95, framed poster

Andy Warhol Cats Illustration Animals Modern Art

Fresh out of college in 1949, Warhol began his highly successful career as a commercial illustrator working for such clients as Harper's Bazaar, Tiffany & Co., and Glamour. Throughout this first chapter of his artistic career, Warhol lived with his mother, Julia, and their cat, Hester, in their Manhattan apartment.

Worrying that poor Hester was lonely and seeking feline companionship, Warhol began bringing home more and more cats to join their clowder, 25 in fact, all of whom he named Sam.

Cat from 25 Cats Name[d] Sam and One Blue Pussy, 1954 (hot pink sam)

£95, framed poster

Andy Warhol Cats Illustration Modern Art Animals

His love for his cats and his desirable illustrations combined in 1954, when he published his own children’s book, ‘25 cats called Sam and One Blue Pussy’. For the book, he drew a total of 16 illustrations – portraying 16 of his cats in total, including a ‘Blue Pussy’, who portrays the once lonely Hester.

Just like with his other illustrative works of shoes, food and other animals, he collaborated with Julia, who lent her expert skills in calligraphy as a finishing touch to each piece.

Rare copies of the book can still be found today, with individual lithographs of each of the cats also being highly valued collector’s items – each made truly unique by their hand-applied washes of vibrant colour, added by Warhol and his friends.