The Black Cat
Drawing
ca. 1945 (made)
ca. 1945 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Rolf Brandt (1906-1986) and his brother Bill (1904-1983) who became famous as a photographer, came to London from Hamburg in the early 1930s. Although trained as an actor Rolf Brandt showed a keen interest in drawing and making collages; while still in Germany he had developed an interest in Dada and Surrealist artists as well some of those trained at the Bauhaus, such as Paul Klee. In London he continued to work as an actor but to also make visual art. His drawings for illustration were first published in the 1940s and he became known for his haunting, surrealistic style and delicate line.
This drawing for a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, was one of a number made for the anthology of weird, romantic, if sometimes horrific stories, published under the title 'Come Not Lucifer', by John Westhouse, in 1945. The peculiar qualities of this image are highly individual while at the same time reflective of the horrors which had just been very much part of many peoples lives during the Second World War.
This drawing for a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, was one of a number made for the anthology of weird, romantic, if sometimes horrific stories, published under the title 'Come Not Lucifer', by John Westhouse, in 1945. The peculiar qualities of this image are highly individual while at the same time reflective of the horrors which had just been very much part of many peoples lives during the Second World War.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Black Cat (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Graphite on white paper |
| Brief description | Drawing by Rolf Brandt ca. 1945, illustration to Poe's 'The Black Cat' in the anthology 'Come Not Lucifer' published by John Westhouse in 1945. |
| Physical description | A thin girl or young woman with should length wavy blonde hair, closed eyes standing between - virtually sandwiched between two stone or brick walls, the one in front knocked away unevenly to reveal the girl to as far as her waist. on her head is perched a cat with arched back, raised tail, hair on end and angry/terrified expression with open jaw. From the girl's hairline, trickling over her forehead run droplets of blood, possibly from a wound caused by the cats claws. The paper is thin and may be Japanese, slightly discoloured through age and pasted to a support sheet on the upper margin. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund |
| Object history | Susan Brandt negotiated on behalf on the children of R.A. Brandt for this drawing to be acquired; it was purchased from her brother Nicholas Brandt: Impasse Francois Xavier Fabré 85, Castries (Herault), 34160 France. 'The Black Cat' , a short story by Edgar Allan Poe was included in the Romantic anthology of 'weird' tales 'Come Not Lucifer' edited anonymously but possibly by the publisher, John Westhouse. Published in 1945 with illustrations by R.A. Brandt. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Poe, Edgar Allen: 'The Black Cat' in the anthology 'Come Not Lucifer' edited anonymously but possibly by the publisher, John Westhouse. With illustrations by R.A.Brandt. Published 1945 |
| Summary | Rolf Brandt (1906-1986) and his brother Bill (1904-1983) who became famous as a photographer, came to London from Hamburg in the early 1930s. Although trained as an actor Rolf Brandt showed a keen interest in drawing and making collages; while still in Germany he had developed an interest in Dada and Surrealist artists as well some of those trained at the Bauhaus, such as Paul Klee. In London he continued to work as an actor but to also make visual art. His drawings for illustration were first published in the 1940s and he became known for his haunting, surrealistic style and delicate line. This drawing for a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, was one of a number made for the anthology of weird, romantic, if sometimes horrific stories, published under the title 'Come Not Lucifer', by John Westhouse, in 1945. The peculiar qualities of this image are highly individual while at the same time reflective of the horrors which had just been very much part of many peoples lives during the Second World War. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.547-2005 |
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| Record created | December 17, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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