Walter Chandoha. Cats. Photographs 1942

Dimensions: 5,5 x 0,75 x 7,5 inç Pages: 185 One winter night in New York in 1949, young marketing student and photography novice Walter Chandoha spotted a stray kitten in the snow, wrapped him in his coat and brought him home. He was unaware that he had just met the muse that would determine the course of his life. Chandoha turned her lens to her new feline friend, whom she named Loco, and was so inspired by the results that she began photographing kittens at a local shelter. These images marked the beginning of a remarkable career that spanned seven decades. Long before the internet and #catsofinstagram, Chandoha was enchanting the public with her obscure subjects. From advertisements to greeting cards, puzzles to pet food packaging, his images combined a genuine love for creatures, a strong work ethic, and impeccable technique. Chandoha's distinctive dazzling lighting, which made each cat's fur stand out in sharp relief, would define the visual vocabulary of animal portraiture for generations and inspire masters such as Andy Warhol, who took cues from Chandoha's stunning portraits in his illustrated cat book. Cats delves into the archives of this genre-defining artist, including colorful studio and environmental portraits, black-and-white street photography, images from old cat shows, tender paintings depicting her children with cats, and more. It's a fitting tribute not only to these seductive creatures, but also to the remarkable photographer who passed away in 2019 at the age of 98; and whose compassion is felt in every frame.