Louis Wain
Louis Wain (5 August 1860 - 4 July 1939) was an English artist best known for his drawings, which consistently featured anthropomorphised large-eyed cats and kittens. In his later years he may have suffered from schizophrenia (although this claim is widely disputed among many specialists if this is true or not), which, according to some psychiatrists, can be seen in his works.
Louis William Wain was born on 5 August 1860 in Clerkenwell in London. His father was a textile trader and embroiderer; his mother was French. He was the first of six children, and the only male child. None of his five sisters ever married. At the age of thirty, his youngest sister was certified as insane, and admitted to an asylum. The remaining sisters lived with their mother for the duration of their lifetimes, as did Louis for the majority of his life.
Wain was born with a cleft lip and the doctor gave his parents the orders that he should not be sent to school or taught until he was ten years old. As a youth, he was often truant from school, and spent much of his childhood wandering around London. Following this period, Louis studied at the West London School of Art and eventually became a teacher there for a short period. At the age of 20, Wain was left to support his mother and his five sisters after his father's death.
Wain soon quit his teaching position to become a freelance artist, and in this role he achieved substantial success. He specialized in drawing animals and country scenes, and worked for several journals including the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, where he stayed for four years, and The Illustrated London News, beginning in 1886. Through the 1880s, Wain's work included detailed illustrations of English country houses and estates, along with livestock he was commissioned to draw at agricultural shows. His work at this time includes a wide variety of animals, and he maintained his ability to draw creatures of all kinds throughout his lifetime. At one point, he hoped to make a living by drawing dog portraits.
In subsequent years, Wain's cats began to walk upright, smile broadly and use other exaggerated facial expressions, and would wear sophisticated, contemporary clothing. Wain's illustrations showed cats playing musical instruments, serving tea, playing cards, fishing, smoking, and enjoying a night at the opera. Such anthropomorphic portrayals of animals were very popular in Victorian England and were often found in prints, on greeting cards and in satirical illustrations such as those of John Tenniel.
The onset of Wain's schizophrenia may have been precipitated by Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite which is excreted by cats in their faeces. The theory that toxoplasmosis can trigger schizophrenia is the subject of ongoing research, though the origins of the theory can be traced back as early as 1953.
When his sisters could no longer cope with his erratic and occasionally violent behaviour, he was finally committed, in 1924, to a pauper ward of Springfield Mental Hospital in Tooting. A year later, he was discovered there and his circumstances were widely publicized, leading to appeals from such figures as H. G. Wells and the personal intervention of the Prime Minister. Wain was transferred to the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Southwark, and again in 1930 to Napsbury Hospital near St Albans in Hertfordshire, north of London. This hospital was relatively pleasant, with a garden and colony of cats, and he spent his final 15 years there in peace. While he became increasingly deluded, his erratic mood swings subsided, and he continued drawing for pleasure. His work from this period is marked by bright colours, flowers, and intricate and abstract patterns, though his primary subject remained the same. He is buried in his father's grave at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, London.
Dr. Michael Fitzgerald disputes the claim of schizophrenia, saying that Wain more likely had Asperger's syndrome (AS). Of particular note, Fitzgerald indicates that while Wain's art took on a more abstract nature as he grew older, his technique and skill as a painter did not diminish, as one would expect from a person with schizophrenia. Moreover, elements of visual agnosia are demonstrated in his painting. If Wain had visual agnosia, it might have manifested itself merely as an extreme attention to detail.
[from Wikipedia]
Music: Vaughan Williams "The Lark Ascending"
Пікірлер: 181
a painting is missing, and that painting was the last one where he made a cat, a happy cat, a cute and cheerful cat while under the cat there is a text that says "I am happy because everyone loves me" showing that he was happy, what Happy that everyone loved him, that they cared about him, there is a friend, it makes me want to cry to remember that, it is so beautiful to see that in that true work of art he demonstrates his happiness, that happiness makes me want to cry
For anyone who is wondering if he found any solace in his later years. Thanks to the generosity of a handful of his fans with their donations and even a referral from the British Prime Minister at the time, Louis was transferred to the best mental hospital at the time and received far better treatment and surroundings than he ever could have gotten at the time period. His final piece released to the public was another cat, looking happy as can be in his traditional style that made him the gem we appreciate today with the caption; "I am happy, because everyone loves me!"
@Merlodica
Жыл бұрын
I had no idea that was his last piece. I adore that picture, it actually made me cry because human suffering is lost on cats and they’ll never know the pain of being betrayed or hated by others, they exist in their own world.
I am happy because everyone loves me. -Louis Wain, his last painting
It's enough to make a grown man like me cry. I hope his soul has found peace in whatever lies beyond the veil.
While he definitely had a very rough life, let's also remember he had a good ending to it :] Man spent the rest of his life surrounded by the thing he adored most and painted it till he passed. Not all artists have to suffer their whole lives, and I'm happy such a wonderful artist was able to spend his final years happy.
10:24 My favorite piece of his. It remains me of my cat , who deceased 4 years ago. That look of curiosity and surprise really brings a tear to my eye.
@brendanwright9546
6 жыл бұрын
Theatre squad 2003 You seem like a good soul. And I hope your cat is in a better place 🐱
@honeybee1256
6 жыл бұрын
Brendan Wright that made my day thank you so much! ☺️😊
@brendanwright9546
6 жыл бұрын
You’re welcome
@jhoansebastianportocarrero2784
3 жыл бұрын
I never had a cat, and this artist definitely brings me a lot of tears.
@jeigheff
2 ай бұрын
I miss our departed cats too.
This man had a rough life and you can see his mental health dwindle as his creations progressed. His work is stuff of beauty and curiosity in the eyes of the people, but under that beauty was sadness.
@tobymahaney7219
3 жыл бұрын
Most Artists are this way it’s expression of thought not memory
@nw7us
2 жыл бұрын
Most of his artwork is not dated, thus cannot be put into any timeline. Therefore, one cannot postulate any progression of his mental state, based on his art. This is a well-known issue central to the much-heated debate. You can find out more, if you do some research on this specific aspect of Louis Wain.
@theunwantedcritic
2 жыл бұрын
I completely reject this idea. If you look at the images he’s doing a number of different styles very traditional paintings, cartoony work the man was all over the place with technique. Some of his more abstract pieces resemble Tibetan and Hindu mendalas. Incredibly intricate work. There’s a very famous image that he did towards the end of his life where he worked in his traditional style. It’s just a head of a cat. In the words underneath say I am happy because I am loved. By the way his hand lettering was superb
@TienPham-bh8xe
Жыл бұрын
chuẩn bn :)))))))))))))
@berkansahin2390
Жыл бұрын
The paintings arent in chronological order. His caleidoskop cats werent only drawn in his older years. He still liked to draw humanoid and realistic cats. And he even drew some caleidoskop cats in his earlier days like the blue white one or the rainbow background one. If I dont remember wrong, 5:25 was one of his later drawings and the infamous "im happy bcs everyone loves me" drawing from him.
Man, that painting at 13:48... Had he painted that in the 1960s-70s, he would’ve been labeled a genius. He was way ahead of his time!
Seeing an animated film made in this style is my wet dream.
@a.c.7573
2 жыл бұрын
I'd say Night On The Galactic Railway is the most similar to this style though it's still pretty different. Very beautiful and surreal and worth checking out
@--.._
2 жыл бұрын
the anthropomorphized cats remind me of some episodes of the world of peter rabbit and friends tbh
I love his artwork so much. The earlier paintings before schizophrenia, were full of joy, whimsy, curiosity, beauty, and silliness. But when he developed schizophrenia, the art changes so dramatically. The backgrounds became more abstract and the cats eyes are what stood out to me. The cats have this aura of distress and paranoia, and the eyes, oh the eyes are filled with paranoia and dread. Then as the disease progressed, they became completely abstract and there’s still an emphasis on the eyes.
@robokill387
3 жыл бұрын
I disagree, the older paintings are just kitsch nonsense, the later ones show the real mathematical beauty of the universe.
@777Rowen
3 жыл бұрын
@@robokill387 ok 👍
@char-_
2 жыл бұрын
@@robokill387 same, I don’t believe he had schizophrenia. I believe that he was on the spectrum and that he was in a bad place mentally from his past trauma.
@berkansahin2390
Жыл бұрын
The paintings arent in chronological order. His caleidoskop cats werent only drawn in his older years. He still liked to draw humanoid and realistic cats. And he even drew some caleidoskop cats in his earlier days like the blue white one or the rainbow background one. If I dont remember wrong, 5:25 was one of his later drawings and the infamous "im happy bcs everyone loves me" drawing from him.
Rest In Peace, Louis Wain. Thank you for your beautiful art. ❤
I just ordered one of his pieces and it also benefits an animal charity so i'am vary pleased to have it. ^_^ His story is truly tragic yet still inspiring to see he never stopped making art and trying to make sense of his pain through it, and also a pure love of cats.
@meeangie22
2 жыл бұрын
Where did you order from?
@NaneelQueenOfDarknes
2 жыл бұрын
@@meeangie22 I found them on Ebay. One was on a canvas a re print and one was a black and white drawing. ^_^
Such a loving perception he had. i enjoyed everyone of these. The music is very beautiful to me as well.... Thank you very much for sharing this. 🥀
@DistantMirrors
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching! His biography is also an interesting read. The whole article from Wikipedia was too long to post here so you can read more there if you want :)
@madalynmoth4263
6 жыл бұрын
DistantMirrors Yes, i will. Thank you so much again for making the compilation & attaching a bio. His paintings are very gentle & the colors are so soft & warm emotionally. If you have time would you mind telling me what piece of music this is?
@DistantMirrors
6 жыл бұрын
You're very welcome! I chose "The Lark Ascending" composed by Vaughan Williams for this video. You can always find name of the composer/musician and the title at the end of the video description if you would be interested in other pieces.
@madalynmoth4263
6 жыл бұрын
DistantMirrors Thank you so much. i looked for it in the description last night but i just didn’t see it for some reason. Be well.... 🕊 *i’ll look forward to more of your postings.
@DistantMirrors
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you! All the best to you :)
4:05 i find this particular painting interesting just because of the cat on the far right who is looking rather sad than happy like the other cats. i wonder if this represents how he felt on the inside or if it was just a painting and no meaning behind it. :/
This brought me tears! the music was the detonator factor, so beautiful!
Beautiful. I love cats, and the music is perfect.
@Wood_969
5 жыл бұрын
m m meow
some of his paintings gave me this ghibli style vibe and i'm living for it, they have a unique feeling
13:21 one of his later pieces when he was in asylum.. quite tragic and crazy, isn't it?
@joannaventrello2179
4 жыл бұрын
Its beautiful but very sad at the same time. His mental state completely transformed his art.
I recently learned that before his art, cats were pretty much just tolerated as vermin catchers and not beloved pets like they became after he popularized them in his art. He helped inspire the western world's favor of cats. 😻
This is so lovely! Thank you for creating and sharing this wonderful slideshow of his work.
@DistantMirrors
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching Michelle!
It hurts me so much at the end, it looked like he was going through so much pain but the ones at the end are so detailed, its sad knowing while those paintings look very cool and psychedelic he was probably scizophrenic episodes while making the art we are looking at today.
@berkansahin2390
Жыл бұрын
The paintings arent in chronological order. His caleidoskop cats werent only drawn in gis older years. He still liked to draw humanoid and realistic cats. And he even drew some caleidoskop cats in his earlier days like the blue white one or the rainbow background one. If I dont remember wrong, 5:25 was one of his later drawings and the infamous "im happy bcs everyone loves me" drawing from him.
Adorable artwork, and important work by Louis for all the cats. I am only surprised that "I am happy because everyone loves me" kitty image was not shown, for me that image is the personification of Louis in cat world - sweet, kind, innocent - saying thank you to his friends and fans for transferring him to a better, more dignified place to spend his older age.
Am I the only one somehow very interested in learning more about the effects of schizophrenia on a person before and after? What about his death? I may sound like a nerd, but this is genuinely fascinating
i hope he is well in peace,man what a great artist,he inspired me,he gave me many ideas,rip legend
His transition from the literal to the abstract is both impressive and heartbreaking; impressive in the sense that, even when broken down to mere colors and shapes, you can still make out the essence of a cat, and heartbreaking in that you can clearly see the effects of his rapidly-deteriorating mental state in his later art. Still, ALL his work is just magnificent. Whimsical and surreal, to be sure, but also playful and even fun.
@berkansahin2390
Жыл бұрын
The paintings arent in chronological order. His caleidoskop cats werent only drawn in gis older years. He still liked to draw humanoid and realistic cats. And he even drew some caleidoskop cats in his earlier days like the blue white one or the rainbow background one. If I dont remember wrong, 5:25 was one of his later drawings and the infamous "im happy bcs everyone loves me" drawing from him.
The movie was a gem 💎💕
Genial,este video esta en mi top 3 de los mejores videos de pintores con música ❤❤❤
Louis Wain needs more popularity than he has, we need to buy his works and give them to animal shelters all over the world.
i got into art through louis wain, and i still struggle to grasp how a person can craft such perfection by hand
I just found this artist and I really love everything has done...such a cruel life transformed in such beautiful paintings. I bet he was a beautiful person, a tipe of person that this world needs today. If I see Louis one day in heaven, I will hug him whit all my heart. 😿
My Lord he was in soo much pain
好き とっても✨ 作者さん、幸せな人生であって欲しかった… 古い時代に、猫という生き物の素敵な魅力を、こんなにも感じ取る事が出来て 尚且つそれをアートとして沢山 表現する事も出来たなんて 早く生まれ過ぎたのかも知れないなぁ 私はこの人と、この人の作品が本当に愛しい。😢💕
So beautiful! Someday I'll become a famous artist like him
@von111
5 жыл бұрын
Yes you will. ❤
@sabrinanascimento1267
4 жыл бұрын
I strive to be a great Artist as well.
@mr.m3728
3 жыл бұрын
Good luck 👍
@justadog8011
3 жыл бұрын
Uh oh.
@NeonAstralOfficial
Жыл бұрын
Its been 3 years, never stop believing in yourself! :3
What gets me is that they call his later wrks r the result of mental illness. What a brilliant madness then. They become less of a graphic commercial type & morph completely in2 a style again so Unique. I love them all. I luv cats south also. I can understand his obsession w them. Many writers, musicians along w artists change during their artistic journey thru out their life. The layer works r way ahead of their time. So talented 👏 hru life
This man had many styles.
With everything he went through, he was able to paint realistically and abstract so beautifully and to the point.
10:17 "...this is fine"
"I see cat people !" Hehehe ! I think I'm gonna dream with cats... The realistic paintings are very good and the abstract ones are very interesting. Thanks for sharing !
I can't thank you enough for posting this.
@DistantMirrors
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching!
As a Persian, I really admire the British culture. Thank you for your beautiful video❤
@DistantMirrors
11 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching!
Agradeço por esse compilado das obras dele, sou fascinado por gatos e quando descobri esse pintor, a sua história, é melancólica porém inspirador
Regarding schizophrenia I digress, I am quite sure as he became older he realised we were in some kind of universe made of algorithms and fractals and proceeded to interpret his cats on the energy level, rather than what we perceive with our limited vision.
Thank you for making this video. Most relaxing to watch. Stunning art and a beautiful mind.
@DistantMirrors
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching!
beautiful music
13:47-13:52 I like these. I know it’s a time when his mind is going crazy. But I love how he can make these cats look sinister. I love these specifically because he went real crazy with all the colors.
@fauhwn
4 жыл бұрын
i love the contrast between 12:59 and 13:02 , from an innocent drawing to a more psychedelic looking painting
@berkansahin2390
Жыл бұрын
The paintings arent in chronological order. His caleidoskop cats werent only drawn in gis older years. He still liked to draw humanoid and realistic cats. And he even drew some caleidoskop cats in his earlier days like the blue white one or the rainbow background one. If I dont remember wrong, 5:25 was one of his later drawings and the infamous "im happy bcs everyone loves me" drawing from him.
Extraordinario magico hermoso realmente divino 🐱🌻🌼🌷🌱🌿🌾☘🍀🌲
Before the schizophrenia kicked in, his art was some of the most wholesome art I’ve ever seen
@berkansahin2390
Жыл бұрын
The paintings arent in chronological order. His caleidoskop cats werent only drawn in gis older years. He still liked to draw humanoid and realistic cats. And he even drew some caleidoskop cats in his earlier days like the blue white one or the rainbow background one. If I dont remember wrong, 5:25 was one of his later drawings and the infamous "im happy bcs everyone loves me" drawing from him.
@raeanntrevino3461
11 ай бұрын
@@berkansahin2390 That painting had the words on it this one does not
@berkansahin2390
11 ай бұрын
@@raeanntrevino3461 I think you misunderstood my comment...
It's amazing that even after everything they still somewhat resembled cats
The Lark Ascending for cats. That's rather funny. I love the music and I would buy one of Wain's paintings.
IMHO It's interesting how we can appreciate that he changes gradually the patterns of drawing happy cats as the main scene and very realistic backgrounds, changing into angry and sad cats within fractal pattern backgrounds. And after that, we can see how gradually the cats are drawn with these fractal patterns, leaving a solid colored background instead.
@robokill387
3 жыл бұрын
It's a bit of the myth. Few of his works are dated, and some of the "before schizophrenia" artworks were actually painted very late in life. People have simply put them in an order to try to construct a narrative, not because it's based on reality.
Gatti gatti, creature meravigliose. Angeli sulla terra 🤩
5:55 ¡Bellísimo!
Truly beautiful. I ask myself, why do I care so much about Louis Wain's art? I can't take my eyes off it.
Amazing Artist.🖤🐱
Should I be worried that my favorite cats are at the end?
@DistantMirrors
6 жыл бұрын
Mine definitely are :)
@mr.m3728
3 жыл бұрын
No
@teodelfuego
3 жыл бұрын
Yes
@olgakoukouftopoulou3544
3 жыл бұрын
Me to
@sabriskaguvensski8590
3 жыл бұрын
Yes
Very nicely presented evolution of art in a disturbed mind. I must admit, though, that Louis Wain's talent is better illustrated and more attractive in the later than the earlier works.
I have a hypothesis. Cats are a multiple metaphor, between how people treat cats (some people think that dressing cats like people is abusive to felines), as well as treating each other, both family and strangers. And finally, as society as an intangible spiritual-psychedelic-spiritual spectrum in our unconscious, treats individuals, what they are expected to do and feel, which can make us as strange and out of place as cats wearing people's clothes. Adaptability, nature. Hummm, criticize the video of kittens before the internet, lol. Personally, I like the cats portrayed in a psychedelic way, very creative!
I've just come across some of his wonderful latest works! Thanks for sharering this collection and with that beautiful music as background. By the way, who is the composer?
@DistantMirrors
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching! The compser is Vaughan Williams and the title of the piece is "The Lark Ascending". I always mention the composer's name in the description.
@juliabarbiero9226
5 жыл бұрын
@@DistantMirrors ah! sorry, I didn't check. Thanks!
Maravillosa imaginación y maravilloso arte!
You can see his sanity fade over time when making these. They’re are beautiful, but very haunting and sad.
To me there is always something hauntingly beautiful within a schizophrenics art.
His art is beautiful and by the end it’s hard to even tell that it’s a cat at all.
The drawings at the end that are very different, (13:01 onwards) make me sad. I know they are highly ornate and interesting, but for me it looks like the breaking apart of a mind.
Sadness unexplained unneeded. Rest you.
It's just a handful of paintings, but you can watch his mind go.
He inspired me...
He had the most beautiful mind...tyfs in such a lovely way. :-)
Amazing 🌏
My favourite cats of his are these two 13:00 and 7:47
Sublime
10:51 that cat is the saddest one for me.
🙏
🙏🏻
If Louis Wain was really in deep schizophrenia state, how can he wrote perfectly normal signatures like in 13:13 & 13:21 ?
@megangillis7588
Жыл бұрын
man had excellent handwriting lol
2:57 Louis Wain's fursona? lol
❤️😢
So cute 😁
Hermoso
That's so creepy how they just turn absolutely mental at the end...
He must have loved cats a lot ❤
He went from wholesome to genius
11:40 soy el único al que le gusta esta pintura?
Love the Vaughn Williams
For anyone who is struck with emotion by these cats as much as I am, I beg you, go watch the Blind Dweller's video on Louis Wain. It will break your heart, in a good way.
Excelente :-)
what music pieces were used in this video?
@DistantMirrors
5 жыл бұрын
It's mentioned in the description of the video. Vaughan Williams "The Lark Ascending"
i'm happy, because everyone loves me
Cats were his Mandelbrot set.
Acute observation, superb draftsmanship, fertile imagination! Louis is not given sufficient credit in critical circles. And, after all, he invented psychedelic art! The recent film about his 'electrical' life is well titled - he crackled with creative energy. A sad and wonderful man.
猫がすてきです🐱
good
this doesn’t really have to do with the tragedy of louis wain’s decline in mental health or mental health in general, but i recently did shrooms and when i closed my eyes i could see the colorful patterns that make up the painting at 14:13 almost exactly. it reminded me of his art immediately and maybe looking at a bandana for example. obviously, these are colors and patterns that appear frequently in his final paintings, and it very well could’ve just been me remembering the hypnotic beauty of them, but it definitely got me thinking. anyway, food for thought? idk.
Neat
I love cats.
Simpli beutiful
Why yes, how did you know I like cat paintings?
Creepy cats are creepy
MEOW 0:00
10:27 things becomes wired
@mr.m3728
3 жыл бұрын
E
11:15 this one is the most pretty I think