Little Girl and the Cat
after 1916/1919
Medium
oil on wood
Dimensions
overall: 52.1 x 36.3 cm (20 1/2 x 14 5/16 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CAB
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch
Accession Number
1959.11.11
Art Historical Context
"Little Girl and the Cat is a charming oil painting on wood by an anonymous American artist from the 20th, created after 1916 or 1919. Measuring just 20½ × 14⁵/₁₆ inches, this intimate work captures a tender moment between a young girl and her feline companion, evoking simplicity and warmth of everyday American life in the early decades of the century. The modest wood panel—a medium favored in folk art traditions for its accessibility and durability—suggests roots in self-taught or regional painting practices, where artists often drew from personal surroundings without formal training. This p...
About the Artist
American 20th Century
"American 20th Century" is the designation used by major institutions such as the National Gallery of Art (NGA) for anonymous and unidentified artists active in the United States during the twentieth century. The artist's personal identity, early life, and training remain undocumented, reflecting the challenges of attribution for unattributed works from this era. No specific teachers, art schools,...