“He has made the cat his own. He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world,English cats that do not look and live like Louis Wain cats are ashamed of themselves”
– HG Wells
Louis Wain is one of the most, distinctive artist among Victorian Painters merely for his fluffy subject matters. His use of anthropomorphized animals have been credited as later inspiration for animation studios like Pixar and Disney. At paramount were his depictions of wonder-eyed, anthropomorphic cats indulging in lavish activity typical to that of Victorian England. strolling along the country, playing cricket on a sunny day, and getting into trouble.
Although Louis Wain has become far more known for his later depictions of psychedelic cats, which have been wrongly attributed to his declining mental state. This theory of mental degradation is mostly attributed to Francis Reitman’s “psychotic art” book as well as Walter Macray, a psychologist who in 1938, used Louis Wain’s art to support his theory of artistic deterioration. Although it’s still uncertain the diagnosis of Louis’s illness, yet still, the dramatization of his health has always been more of a way of sensationalizing rather than deciphering the mind of someone as fascinating as Wain.
Louis’s depictions of Catland were created to escape the life marred by personal tragedies, loss, and childhood isolation. One of the front figures of Outsider art, as well as a proponent that later fueled the psychedelia movement in the 60s. You could probably make comparison to the singer Syd Barret of Pink Floyd, an English singer who was known for his struggles with schizophrenia. If you listen to much of Pink Floyd’s early albums, specifically Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the imagery almost recalls something Wainian; Just imagine , “Lucifer cat” plays, as an almost exhibitable quant English dinning room is melted into a trail of vibrant colors, slowly the distorted paisley wall, licked with arsenic, distorts into wavy patterns, and turns into the lynx-eyed face of one of Louis Wain’s abstract cats.
. .“The days of my childhood were terrifying in the extreme. I seemed to live hundreds of years, and to see thousands of mental pictures of extraordinary complexity, pictures that were so vivid that I can recall many of them in the present day. […] But above all, I was haunted; in the streets, at home, by day and night, by a vast globe, which seemed to have endless surface, and I seemed to see myself climbing over and over it, until, from sheer fright I came to myself, and the vision went.”
As a boy, my fancy trembled in the balance between music, painting, authorship and chemistry. I might in one sense say that I have had an art training, for I never contemplated being anything but an artist in one form or another”
Louis Wain was born August 5th in Clerkenwell London, the only boy of six sisters, and a family plagued by mental illness. His father was a textile trader, and his mother a carpet embroider. Loui’s life had started with hardship, he was born with a cleft lip, afflicted with visions, and faced numerous health issues, including scarlet fever. As a result, Louis was forced to stay homebound for an extensive period of time. He would not attend school until he was 10 years old. This isolation would result in Louis’s withdrawn and shy personality, and even when accepted back into Orchard Street Foundation school, Louis remained a truant, skipping his classes and wandering the streets. Oddly enough, he cared about learning everything but his academics. While skipping, he observed the life around him, attending lectures or exploring the countryside. much of his joy in this time was from drawing, music, and learning from science lectures at the Royal Polytechnic Institution. Louis would eventually pursue his passion at the West London School of Arts. While here, Louis Wain would begin his career in art journalism, although at 20, the death of his father left Louis as the only male to financially support his mother and sisters. His skills and ambition were recognize by the West London School of Arts, and in 1881, he was given an opportunity to work there as a teacher’s assistant.
Not much is mentioned of Louie’s beginning as a press artist, which, may be because of how simplistically natural his work was compared to his later works; ambitious and colorful prints inspired by the blooming art nouveau movement. yet still, Louis provided his interest in nature of all kinds, he specifically specialized in animals and pastural scenes. Louis would even go on long train rides to attend animal circus shows for drawing scenes. In 1881, 22 year old Louie’s, first non-feline print was published by The Illustrated Sporting News. Louis’s high attention to detail was desecrated when a printer mistakingly titled his work “Robin’s breakfast” a printing error would embarrass him tremendously. Despite this, Louie continued to do work for the Illustrated sporting News, eventually leaving his teaching occupation to work as a full-time staff there. Three years later, the magazine would published Louis Wain’s first drawing of cats, called “The Domestic Cat”a playful infographic on feline domestication. Although this print, adoring and charming depictions of cats in their natural habit, had not yet obtaining the humanistic charm of his later work.In 1886, Louis would be commissioned to illustrate a book titled “Madame Tabbies Establishment” a children’s book written by Caroline Hughes telling the story of a school for kitten manners. The online archive shows a simple blue hardback book llustrated with numerous golden prancing kittens by Louis Wain, as well as his ornate and meticulous design work, effective as ornate memorabilia.
Louis Wain entered a relationship with his sister’s governess, Emily Richardson, who was employed in the Wain’s household. Emily was of lower class and 10 years his age, which at the time was seen as scandalous when most gaps in marriage were an average of four years. Despite this, Louis and Emily would get married months later, and they would later move into their own home. Emily brought kindness and encouragement into the life of a man who had a gift not yet shared to the world. She encouraged Louis to publish his first big success, “Kittens Christmas.” Unfortunately, the publishing of his success was overshadowed by tragedy, when in 1887, Emily would pass away to breast cancer. there was no denying how meaningful Emily had been to Wain. She profoundly affected his art. Her death greatly devastated him, tearing a hole into the once whimsy man. Wain dedicating the rest of his craft to her memory, and would never marry again. During Emily’s days, spent sickly and bedridden, came the cat “Peter” who, had peacefully kept her company in her illness. Given by one of Louis’s sister, (Or found as a stray during the night, most articles and sources conflict,) to keep her comfort in time of pain. Peter the cat was featured numerously as a model, serving as inspiration in his beginning works for feline personality. To Louis Wain, the happiness Peter provided Emily in those last days, inspired him to create his endearing cats.
“Peter” as shown in one of Louis’s cartoons.
From “A Kitten’s Christmas Party” 1886 Illustrated London News, Christmas issue, pencil and wash. The publishing would soon take over England and begun their interest in Catland.
The cat craze begin with the publishing of “A kitten’s Christmas Party” commissioned by Sir William Ingram, for the Christmas volume of the Illustrated London News. What would be Wain’s first depiction of his signature anthropomorphic cats that defined him. This 10-panelled print depicts the emergence of humanly character from Louis’s kittens, which are portrayed in different lively activities, messily indulging in punch, writing letters, running in circles, and being curious.
The years following 1890 served to be a flourishing time for Louis, despite the tragedy of his wife’s passing still lingering. Following the success of “Kittens Christmas” Louis was commissioned for many children’s books, such as “Fairy tales” in 1895 and then “Puss in Boots” aswell as “cats cradle”In 1908. Louis illustrated a fantasy world of animals for children, much different from the modest and disciplined rhymes of English children books of the time, which put emphasis on manners and discipline. His cats themselves very much catered to the undiscipline. “Cat Scouts” from 1911 tells of a group of cat scouts getting into misfortunes. A mischievous cat named “tiresome Teazer” as well as a naive cat scout named Timmy who accidentally “blows himself to the sky” while trying to make gunpowder, accompany this story.
“The cat scouts” 1911 Illustrated by Louis Wain, written byJessie pope, Published by Blackie and Son
Fairy Tales 1895 1895 illustrated by Louis Wain published by Raphael and Sons
”Trip through fairyland, featuring Puss-in-Boots, witches, dwarves, and more.” — Description from “Catland” Wepage
Pussies at Wonderland” 1900 illustrated by Louis Wain published by Raphael and Tuck
From 1900, Louis was producing 600 average new designs per year. His anthropomorphized cats were widely circulated from illustrated newspapers, postcards, coloring books, and magazines. Louis was a national sensation for a long time. He even held his own “Louis Wain’s annuals,” Lasting until 1915. Advertisements used his cats indulging their products, even his likelihood was used, such as in a tonic medicine advert where Louis wain is seen holding a black cat while text below show him praising phospherine tablets. He transformed the Victorian image of cats, from vermin chaser to pristine clean creatures, as supported by the use of his cats in cleaning advertisements. He judged cats for cat contests, even becoming the chairman of the Cat Club. Louis Wain kept true to his altruistic personality, a compassionate outlook gained from his childhood interest of learning the cultures around him, donating much of his earnings to charities helping stray cats. He even joined the anti-vivisection club. Although Louis’s reckless generosity, when it came to money, would end up being a contribution to his eventual financial struggle.
The medal given to Louis Wain from the National Cat Club
Louis popularity coincided with the expansion of the commercial print market in the development of color reproduction. Color so vividly played a part in his work, such as in “Three cats performing a song” a quintessential example of his anthropomorphic creatures, english dressed cats wearing tuxedos and petticoats. His cat became increasingly expressionistic. Blue tabbies sipped tea, and wore refined overcoats, vibrant cats partaking on Countryside strolls, “Catland” soon took over the hearts of England. Catering to their fantastical ideals of embellishments-yet still, being observational, Louis parodied the life of this society. A man who took in everything from the world, he observed causal human endeavors in public, using these humanistic poses as fuel for his cats.
Louis Wains annuals
‘too true an artist to have professional affectations or conceits’, dashed off a cat with ‘marvellous […] rapidity and ease’, all the time spouting the conviction that ‘our English cats are slowly but surely developing into stronger types […] the face becom[ing] condensed, as it were, into a series of circles.
People were intrigued by Lewis Wain. He was an eccentric man with unbelievable ability. He was known for using both his hands simultaneously to create a drawing, resulting in his countless rapidly produced illustrations. He was a visonary, creating vibrant fun cats for the public to observe in wonder, all while wondering people with his words alone. His extreme ideals and peculiar theories on cats would soon become a main center of marvel. His theories that cats fur were controlled by electric currents to the north pole had probably been influenced by his interests in science. Besides his love of art one of his other less mentioned passions were science and music.There is a slight connection to Louis’s belief that cats extruded electric currency and his interest in Tesla and his current theories of electricity. There is evidence Louis Wain enjoyed futurism composers of the time. Louis Wain played piano himself.
an advertisement for Phospherine tablets containing Louis review
“Love’s young dreams” J. Beagles postcards.
The feline gaze
“there’s a dark young man who loves you” J. Beagles postcards
Louis Wain would provide cat illustrations to service worker, children and soldiers as comfort, but later he would have to pay for his utility and services this way. Louis Wain, despite his fame, never really got to enjoy the money he earned, as much of it went to his sister. Although 1900 to 1910 served to be the best years of Lewis Wain despite the death of his wife, there were marks of tragedy in the life of the feline aficionado. Marie, Wayne’s youngest mentally ill sister was finally declared insane in March 1901 and her mental condition corroded gradually until her death in 1913. No one in the Wain family whatever mention her name. Not even Louis. An isolating fate which would almost take him in his last years alive. Although Louis was becoming a national sensation, he unfortunately did not have the business skills to sustain himself, and he was especially prone to being taken advantage of by scammers. His shyness and difficulty with human contact made the much needed confrontation of business and negotiation difficult for him.
Many relate the concurrence of Louis’s degrading mental state with his increased experimentation, although there are examples prior in his career that Louis was already experimenting before his decadence. Much of these were met with financial setback and poor return. Among pastel, watercolor, pencil and print, Louis dabbled briefly into ceramics as well as animation.
In 1914, Louis Wain would start a rough sketch for a series of nine porcelain animals. Meant as lucky mascots and flower pots, he called them the “Futurist Cats.” He based their aesthetics off of the Cubist art movement- composing vibrant bodies of symmetrical shapes and fluid pattern on the skin of glazed felines, aswell as other characters, such as “The Lucky Bulldog” and “the Lucky Pig” who feel out of place for being in the midst of Edwardian elegance. One cat called “The lucky black cat” is detailed as ”Hold on to me and fortune will smile on thee”.
In 1917 Louis created two animations called “The Golfing Cat” and “the Hunter and the Dog” directed by George Pearson and theatrically released in 1917 by Gaumont Studios. Some reports say that they were never finished, others say that they are held away from public viewing, but there is no current way to watch them, sadly 😿.
“The Golfing Cat” notably featured a character named “Pussyfoot”, the first feline representation in cinema, and a character that supposedly resembled Disney’s later Felix the cat animations. Unfortunately for Louis,the rigor it took to produce each frame for a single cartoon, such was the strain of early animation, proved to be too much for him. He abandoned the format, and the animations have since become lost media.
The decline of Louis’s health
1914 would prove to be the start of a devastating decline in Louie’s life. Although his retro ceramic cats proved to be a promising new venture, a missile torpedo would crash into the ship carrying his work, thus destroying all the porcelain animals he dedicated his passion to. World war II brought the threat of poverty upon him. His publishers were forced to cut back on the amount of illustrated materials produced, and since Louie, having poor business skills, never collected royalties, instead depending on outright fees, he quickly saw the decline in his income. To make things worse for him, Louie would suffer a terrible concussion following a severe fall from a bus in 1914. Louis had always been reputed as a strange individual, many would a credit him as the maddened genius, yet his delusional theories and absurd ideals turned to erratic behaviors. The man who once known for his kind and gentle demeanor, soon become violent and erratic in nature, and in 1924 Lewis Wayne was silently admitted to Springfield hospital, a paupers ward (the former surrey county asylum). Louis would stay here for years believing that his once adoring fans had abandoned him, and maybe some had, as he no longer embellished England in the time of war when Edwardian romanticism was hard to perceive. Yet, the following year, a journalist found him.
“Good Lord, man, you draw like Louis Wain.”
“I am Louis Wain”, replied the patient.
“You’re not, you know”, I exclaimed.
“But I am,” said the artist, and he was
A petition for Wain was started by his many admirers, including the Prime Minister Ramsey Macdonald, who arranged for Louis to be transferred to Bethlehem hospital. His sister’s were given a small pension for Louis’s contribution to the arts. At this point, Louis Wains life paralleled another mentally ill English painter, Richard Dadd, a 19th century fantasy Victorian painter mainly preoccupied with fairy like scenery, inspired straight from fantasy books. Although In the year of 1843 any promising career was shattered when he murdered his father in a fit of Hysteria, believing he was the devil. Wain’s own life paralleled the artists when he too was hospitalized in Bethlehem hospital, the same institution Dadd had been held, albeit in a different wings years before. Both of these artists, while institutionalized, would continue to create pieces that marveled the public years later, although during their time they were mostly forgotten. Like Yayoi Kusama, another artist who spent years and is currently still living in a hospital in Tokyo, Louis would find the stolidness of hospital life to begin some his most extraordinary and expressive forms of works, his psychedelic cats. Violet flowers grew from the eyes of grinning cats who’s fur produce electricity. Catland turned into a exuberant world of psychedelic patterns, and sinuous lines. The bucolic backgrounds became less prominent as kaleidoscopic visuals took over.
Despite his illness’s worsening conditions, as well as what would be considered a undesirable environment, Louis’s last years in a psych at ward in many ways had freed him as much as it was a place of struggle. Much of his artistic life was afflicted with struggle and not much amusement, as he was forced to sustain income for his family. Yet being liberated from the constraints of commercial art, he had finally found himself with plenty of time to pursue his fractal experimentation work.He was given the oppurtunity to utilize his creativity. Louis Wain would decorate the halls of Bethlehem during Christmas. His painting on mirrors are still there to this day, such as the one titled “Brown and White Cats with Plum Pudding. Some people note the relation to his mother, a church embroiderer and carpet designer, and the similarity of his later fractal designs to a Persian rugs. You’ll see that there is some resemblance between these designs and his electric cats. Knowing Louis, there is no doubt he would’ve observed something like this enough to leave a lasting impression.
In 1930 Louis was transferred to Napsbury Hospital in St Albany. He would continue to draw all the while his mental health worsened. Exhibits of his works would be held in London in 1931 and 1937. In 1939 July 4th, Louis Wain would pass away, following a stroke. One of the last cat portraits he would draw before his death depicts a white cat with a mischievous grin, beneath it the words “Im happy because everyone loves.” It dispels the sensationalized theory that Louis was no longer able to correctly illustrate a cat. Much people like to spectacle on the meaning of the drawing, whether it was the words of a self-absorbed cat dote with affection, or the appreciative remarks of a man, lost in Catland who wanted to make people smile.
Gallery of Louis’s art
“A Psychotic Cat”
“Untitled”
“Untitled”
“Pleasant Daydreams”
“The Early Indian Irish”
Mother with Kitten
Persian rug from https://behnamrugs.com/different-persian-rug-styles/
“Brown and White Cats with Plum Pudding” one of the mirrors Louis Wain decorated during his time in Bethlam hospital
“I’ll Draw Your Portrait” (1910?)
Let Me Think Now (Circa 1910?)
I Won’t! (1910?)
“Three Cats Performing A Song and Dance”
“Everybody’s Loved by Somebody” Louis Wain puzzle.
(This one is so cute and I only discovered it AFTER the whole post)
MEDIA
Oingo Boingo’s self titled debut EP, Released September 17, 1980, By I.R.S Records featuring one of Louis Wain’s eclectic cats on stenciled art.
lucifer sam, siam cat
always sitting by your side
always by your side
that cat’s something i can’t explain!
-Syd Barret
Here is the collage I made in contribution to this post I made for Louis Wain
If you want to know more about Louis Wain, I recommend the Catland site. it’s such an incredible source of archived media and art related to him. (It is listed below)
Links and sources
https://catland.distin.org/ (You can view literally all his art and everything right here. Its amazing)
https://www.britannica.com/art/Art-Nouveau
https://museumofthemind.org.uk/collections/gallery/artists/louis-william-wain
https://www.lookandlearn.com/blog/31454/louis-wain-devoted-his-tragic-life-to-his-dying-wife-and-to-cats/ (circa 1975)
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-colorful-dancing-psychedelic-cats-louis-wain
https://volodymyrbilyk.medium.com/that-time-when-louis-wain-did-futurist-cats-2a6b64e6e736
https://www.chrisbeetles.com/artist/19/louis-wain
https://www.stellabooks.com/illustrator/louis-wain
https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/william-kurelek/significance-and-critical-issues/
*
p.s. Hey. (1) The mighty, one and only Darbz has put together a guest post about the legendary cat-centric artist Louis Wain for us, and it’s pleasure incarnate, as you’ve probably already realised by the time you’ve scrolled all way the down here. Thank you so much, Darbz. And the rest of you have several days to make your way through the Wain Fest because … (2) Early tomorrow morning I’m flying to Houston, Texas where I’ll be co-hosting a screening of ‘Room Temperature’ at a film festival there this coming weekend. As always when I take these trips, the blog will be going on vacation until I get back to Paris. In this case, the blog will spring back to life next Tuesday, the 18th. Have the kind of fun that only you can have for the next days, and I’ll catch up with you then. ** Carsten, Hey, bud. Glad the Tyrrell thing sat well with you. Have a festive week. ** BTG, Hi. I’m going to hit the PdT after I get back from Houston plus a few days of jet lag recovery. You like living here? I do. I’m from LA which is kind of maybe like the Marseilles of the US, or at least the Marseilles of California. I live in the 8th (on the border of the 1st) and I can almost see the tip top of the huge dick on my walk to the metro station. I just saw a still from ‘Zone Interdit’ and it’s exactly as you described. I’ll give it a look. Thanks! ** _Black_Acrylic, My pleasure, Mr. R. ** Jack Skelley, Cool beans. Of course I wish you a better attitude but you’re so good at finding the way there yourself. But yes, of course. Wish me uncharacteristically minimal to no jet lag while I’m in Houston. Talk about a tall order. xoxo. ** jay, She’s one of those characters who’s kind of riveting even in really shit films of which she made quite a number. I’ve never read Proust and never will, so I don’t know if he’s my thing or not. He probably is. That TV show is certain to completely rob that game of its nasty silver lining, no? ** Diesel Clementine, Hi! Nice to see you! It’s been a bit. I’m so sorry you’ve been through a rough patch. Even if your husband is overdoing it, he sounds very valuable. I’m glad you’re writing though. My writing has always gotten me through my horrors. The filmed interview for the Edmund White doc seemed to go okay according to the filmers. It’s hard for me to tell. Everything’s going really well with our film so far, thank you. I hope that by the time I get back you’re feeling much closer to how you want to feel. Hang in there, and multi-hugs. ** Charalampos, Brophy is Brigid Brophy. She’s very worth reading. Of course you can email me something — denniscooper72@outlook.com — just keep in mind that I’m very, very slow. Luv from here. ** Dominik, Hi!!! Haha, yes, as is so often the case. I think the first Patti Smith 45 (‘Hey Joe’/Piss Factory’) and ‘Horses’ are great. I think after that the magic was mostly gone. But, no, I mean, Patti Smith is no problem. It’s just that my feed seems to think I’m really, really interested in her but I am really not. Love could do worse than read ‘Exquisite Corpse’ I would say. I’m surprised love hasn’t read it yet. Love hoping Texas lives up to this, G. ** Bill, For sure: her face. I’m suspicious of ‘Bugonia’, yeah, but will probably see it anyway. I wish all the critics would stop encouraging Del Toro to keep going in his recent direction. What is wrong with them?! ** James Bennett, Hi. Haha, no, that’s Kevin mischief. I never stayed in Allen Ginsberg’s apartment and he would never have invited me to, believe me. Have a swell week, and see you before too long at all. ** Steve, Cool. Everyone, Excellent suggestion from Steve: ‘Over on ok.ru, Dmitri Kroitor has posted almost 100 live performances from the French music TV show “Chorus,” which ran from 1978-81. They had very good taste, with clips from Magma, the Ruts, Kraftwerk, James Brown, Magazine, the Clash, Tom Waits, Don Cherry and dozens more.’ Trip stress, I’m knowing that one very well at the moment. Best of luck with yours. Here too: newly wintery. ** HaRpEr //, Hey. She’s quite great in ‘Fat City’. Kind of too bad she never got that kind of opportunity to show her full stuff in a serious context again. I love ‘The Dead’, and I agree. It’s one of the greatest short fiction pieces ever, and yet Huston found a way to represent it and even the devastating ending. Amazing. Keep the faith about your manuscript and always keep in kind how utterly subjective and based on extenuating, totally non-artistic factors that publishers’ decisions usually are. ** Laura, She (Tyrrell) was a wild one. She was around a lot in the kind of alternative punk/drag/etc. scene in LA and everybody knew her peripherally at least. Yeah, that Ozu is unbelievable. Immediately jumped into my favorite films list. My favorite Ozu is still ‘Late Spring’, but still. His greatness is inspiring and intimidating. Should you read Edmund White? I guess if you want to know what it was about his work that made a lot of people declare that he was ‘the great American gay writer’ then why not? I’m almost ready for my trip. It’s early tomorrow. Okay, cool, on what you’ll send. Just to reiterate how slow I am. I don’t remember the Wernher Von Braun quote. My dad was friends with Von Braun weirdly. High hopes that your reprieve persists. Love back. ** Uday, Hi. If you hadn’t watched our films, you’d still be totally cool. I’m not against music in others’ films as long as it isn’t used to smother a film that wouldn’t be much without it. I do pause on the fail videos when they come through my feed. I don’t know, their pleasure is extremely fleeting to me. For some reason my current go-to feed junk are these videos of this guy who goes to restaurants and buys tons of food and then goes and gives it to the homeless. I guess I’m in a mood for kindness or something. Stay on fire. ** Okay. Spend some quality time with Louis Wain and Darbz’s curatorial finesse, and leave whatever comments you like in the next days, and I will put something new in front of you and talk with you in just about a week. Take care.
Now available in North America 
@Darbz omg the floodworks. highkey adore Louis Wain, and the context in which he drew his ‘everyone loves me’ cat… floodworks, i said. i wrote him a song last new year’s eve, dunno i’ll ever be able to sing it without losing it a bit, like. i know he did some fucked up shit leading up to his hospitalisation and gave his family grief, but he wasn’t really in control then and no-one can be that consistently adorable without a serious touch of earth or whatever. ty so much for this post, beautiful. ^_^
Oh wow thank you so much Laura I appreciate that to the stars and back!I spent so much time on this post haha maybe even got a bit obsessive and was worried my one month fixation on this article would make it come out with more psychotic verbosity than anything!
I got very emotional too! when thinking about it, like, right in the middle of working I just burst into tears because you just kind of take it all in what he went through as someone who was very intelligent, creative but was born in a time when his mental deficiency and disorder was not exactly grasped. Even today his illness would probably still be very exhausting and distressing to deal with I could imagine. He very likely was on the spectrum and much of his later symptoms, as well as being a declining mental disorder could have been also a result of him being dysregulated after having his main source of income/comfort literally every bad think happening at once thrown before him. Didn’t help that his family of sisters put so much pressure on him to make money.
Ughh so conflicted about the sisters, it’s hard to feel bad for them after what they put him through. I will say from my readings despite sources saying he got violent and combative I’m very interested into the extent of how “violent” he was before hospitalization.
on one hand it’s like yeah ofc men were expected to make the income at the time BUT they also blamed him for them being unmarried and when they had no money it’s like.. uhhh you weren’t blaming him when he was BRINGING HOME THE MONEY
And ofc them taking paintings he did later while hospitalized to sell and it’s like im sure there’s more to it(like he agreed to it) but damn.
It’s so great to know that at least near the end he was given conciliation by his admirers and he was left to feel less alone than he probably did before. I’m sure, as you said, that’s what makes his last drawing of a cat so poignant.
I am happy because everyone loves me” very much well could have meant to Louis “I am happy because there are people out there who still think of me and enjoy my creativity”
I’m gonna cry again haha!
Oh my I would do totally love to read your song to Louis Wain sometime this week if you had time to write it here! That is of course if it’s not too emotional 4 u.
Sorry for my ramble, nice to meet u!
nice to meet you too! ^_^ you did so well with this post. my compassion for his sisters is limited, my compassion for him isn’t. i’m sure he wanted to provide. but, like, they should have helped him! i’m dealing w really bad long covid and my vocal cords are affected alas, but hopefully this won’t last forever and then i can post a couple of songs or whatever. hopefully you’ll enjoy. x
hiya Dennis!
now i’m a bit recovered from ugly-crying over Louis Wain who deserves it, omg Late Spring! p sure Autumn Afternoon is some sort of a remake. sick. and like, how can the Japanese be so pervy and so almost unbearably poetic, fab combo tbh.
the Von Braun quote is smth like nature doesn’t do destruction, only transformation and his life as a scientist has convinced him we go on after death and stuff. i’m just so conflicted about how we’re supposed to take this in the context of the book lol. i want to be ironic but i feel it’s a return trip from that point.
your dad was friends w him tho? wild! Dennis, you were so… positioned. but then you went the other way, good for you, extra good even.
I’ll get my hands on some Edmund White then, i’m seeing there’s a trilogy so that’s probably where i’ll take things from.
you still haven’t recommended George music! unless that’s like private in which case shhh i never spoke, yea?
i’ll have smth to send you probably while you’re away. i trust your judgement so i can def wait, but in my best headcanon you’re already a tad curious or smth.
bon voyage! hope the jet jag doesn’t suck more than it has to. have been thinking of rereading Try, i’ll likely be doing that while you’re back home.
have fun! i will too, considering. <3
‘jet jag’, what is that lol? just to be safe, hope it doesn’t suck either, tho you never know w neologisms 😀
“Pussies at Work” would make one hell of a band name…
Enjoy Houston, brother! I drove through there once & could only gape at the numerous freeway lanes one winding up & around another. Never been to the town proper. Have another great screening & as mild a jet lag as possible.
Haha omg so much of L wains material is
worthy of namesake and artistic infusion!!
Also now that u pointed that out I realized I made a editing error on one of the picture names. Woops!
Another name I like “playtime in Pussyland” has a nice ring to it.
@Laura: re. your response the other day, I gotta say I’m so allergic to social media it’s a miracle I’ve held on to my FB account. But I do so because my family (blood & spirit) is there & it’s easier to keep in touch this way than schedule calls across different time zones. X I’ve made a conscious decision to stay away from ever since the nazis took it over. Instagram is—I guess—the future, but I’d have to work up a real motivation boost to sign up there. But what the fuck, maybe I have to get over myself. How do I find you on Insta?
@HaRpEr //: have you tried Submittable on your quest for a publisher? I lucked out there, with UnCollected Press picking up my manuscript in no time. And I had serious doubts about my chances in this market as well.
@Carsten i am @_find_lora_m on insta! i don’t update constantly but i story p regularly x
Cool, I’ll look you up
Oh & I’m simply Carsten Czarnecki on Facebook
Thanks for the tip! I have used submittable but only when a press requests that you use it, I didn’t know you could search it for opportunities. Hopefully this streamlines things. Thanks again.
Bit of self-promotion: https://theclosedeyeopen.com/issue-xiv/
That’s issue XIV of The Closed Eye Open, out now, featuring my poem “These Words Are a Knife” on page 11. Read it, dig it, share it with your tribe, shout it from the rooftop & if you lack one, go shout it in the streets.
Hi!!
I’ve never heard of Louis Wain. I love absolutely everything about this post. Thank you ever so much, Darbz!
Have a wonderful trip, Dennis! In fact, since you’ll probably only read this when you get back – how was it? How did the screening go? Did Texas live up to – or maybe even surpass – “Prairie Rose”?
Love going to a comic store to buy some yaoi in German, hoping it’ll be more motivating (and effective) than language books, Od.
Thanks!
^•ﻌ•^ฅ♡
Hi,
Email sent. I know you are busy and slow in responding so take your time ha ha
Nice company thanks to Darbz until the blog returns with new company
Researching Brigid Brophy, totally my thing
I know many things about Edmund White but what do you think is the special book of his that would make one love it?
I don’t care about Patti’s music very much, I like some songs but I have to say Just Kids is such a great book and I have it soooo romanticised inside me…
Hi from Chania and have good times in the screening
thx! ≽^•⩊•^≼ I also very much am a fan of just kids!
🐱
An encyclopedic Louis Wain day. One can not have too many cats. Well, mostly.
I saw Peter Hujar’s Day. It’s obviously a bit different from Sachs’ other films, which I tend to have reservations with. This is probably my favorite of his films; anchoring it with the real text and Ben Whishaw was definitely helpful for me.
Hope the Houston trip goes well, Dennis and Zac.
Bill
If it’s not been mentioned already – David Tibet – he of Current 93 – was an avid collector of LW’s work, and there are a few C93 “songs” that directly reference LW like ‘A Voice from Catland’, & ‘The Cat Is Dead’. Oblique nods to the man are scattered throughout C93’s work; not so oblique was the reissue of C93’s album ‘Thunder Perfect Mind’ which replaced the original cover photo of DT with one of a LW cat. STOP! Just realised my last comment also mentioned David Tibet… so is DT working my strings from a Hastings tavern? Tonight I shall meditate upon that.
yes THANK YOU for mentioning this! I actually came upon/discovered David Tibet while searching for artist inspired by L. Wain, yet for whatever reason, had left quite a few of those specific artist out. (outside Oingo boingo and Pink Floyd)
I hope your meditation is enlightened by cat eyes peering in the night.
Hey Dennis,
I saw Jack Skelley at a reading the other night. So good. I’ve been busy with this new show I’m working on. Did you get my email about it? I got a weird bounce back thing and I couldn’t tell if happened. Anyway, I can’t wait to see you when you are here!
B
Hey Darby, great day, I’m a big Louis Wain fan myself . . . I think I was introduced to his work through the music of Current 93, I know that David Tibet is a big Wain fan and supposedly has a large collection of his original work. I actually wrote a brief article on Wain for this blog’s own _Black_Acrylic’s “Yuck ‘n Yum” summer 2012 issue (entitled “The Doubly Nature of Louis Wain”) though sadly I don’t think it’s available online anymore.
Oh thats so cool! I would have loved to have read that now lost media categoried article. Another commenter above mentioned David Tibet and now I feel I must specifically go down a deep Tibet dive (as it seems we are both heavy L wain fans.)
Hey Dennis.
Love this showcase (huge props to Darbz). There’s a vintage bookstore in London where me and Alice go sometimes just to admire the Louis Wain picture books with their vintage pages all slightly torn by kids who owned them long ago. I might see about getting some when I have money again.
RE: Edmund White being “the great American gay writer,” — I feel like Bob Gluck or you should edge him out there? — Nevermind, the ranking is arbitrary and dumb, and the only White I’ve read is “Nocturnes for the King of Naples.” — so I suppose I can’t judge.
Take Care
When I go to England one day I would love to see if L Wain illustrated books are more prominent among vintage bookstores. I suppose so, although I heard they go at a very high price though…hmm. Thats so cool you totally should get one! and I’d buy one from you haha.
Darbz! This looks so cool. I had meant to go through this earlier, but then my day got away from me. My only knowledge of Louis Wain is that one of his cats appears on the cover of a reissue of the album Thunder Perfect Mind by Current 93 (I see I’m not the only one, hehe). I always loved his vibe, though. This’ll be a great topic to dive into, for sure. All the best to you!! I hope you’re well!
I hope ur well too! ᓚᘏᗢ
@ Sypha, thank you again for writing that tremendous YNY article! I’ll be seeing my colleague Alex this evening and will apply further pressure to get our website updated.
@ DC, here’s hoping you guys enjoy the hell out of Houston!
I have my 46th birthday coming up on Saturday and have requested a couple of exciting-looking books to celebrate. Shock Factory is one and A History of Violence is the other. In the meantime, my voluminous book and record collection will be reordered so that the new flooring in my front room can be installed. It will give me something to do over the coming days.
Thank you Darbz for this post! He seems like someone who I would have loved to speak with, or even just exist in his presence. Everything post 1914 for him just was so sad to read. Not that he’d necessarily be treated wholly better nowadays, but I think he would be someone that would appreciate the easy access to subculture and niche groups, and the ability to share your interests and passions with a receptive audience that the Internet brought.
Hey Dennis,
I got a bit of writing done on my travels, though more done on Wednesday whilst waiting for my friend in a cafe, who had come back from Glasgow for their graduation. A friend of mine just announced some journal/magazine he’s setting up, so that’s another deadline to help keep me active.
Speaking of that new Rosalia album, I listened to it for the first time on a flight, which felt fitting considering it’s heavenly soundscape and aesthetic. Even more so when I started experience some freaky turbulence and had immediately convinced myself we were going to crash. Found it hard to enjoy the album in that state, though I can appreciate it more in hindsight knowing I was totally ok.
Going to a screening of this film called Pillion tonight in the Cork Film Festival. It stars Alexander Skarsgård and is like a romance film about a leather biker and his submissive. There was another film that’s like a documentary about a father and son, im not sure of the details bar the son doing something bad halfway through and the documentary becoming a film about that… but it seemed interesting and i want to go in semi-blind. I can’t go to that though as it clashes, but there is an online screening(?) on Saturday, so I might try view it then.
Good luck with the Houston screening (or moreso I hope it went well considering you wont see this until after)! The blog will be back when I need to have that piece submitted to the Stinging Fly… this month is flying by!
gosh just imagine a world where Louis Wain was given more range to use his creativity. I think he would’ve been a big fan of furries and cat gifs.
**darbbzz He would probably thrive in it all. My friend posted a piece of art they did, which was a cat postcard, i dont know if they were inspired by Wain (though they were in art college for a year so they probably were) but it’s sweet to know his love of cats seems to continue in art; obviously he’s not the first to do so, the Ancient Egyptians made so much of their culture about them! But perhaps, in a cheesy way, every time someone makes art of cats, whether a caricature or a realistic drawing or a photograph or even those cute japanese cafe games, Wain is there in spirit…
Hey Dennis,
Slight update; the movie was pretty good. In parts a rom-com (with the comedy being situational and perhaps not as funny and more sincere when watched alone), and parts a movie of discovering oneself. I’m not in that world of sub/dom, kink stuff (though I’ve read enough and seen enough at clubs and parties to recognize a lot of the culture) so it was interesting to see a movie about that world, and treat it seriously. I also didn’t expect to see Skarsgård’s girthy (prop) penis with a prince albert piercing! My sibling was also at the screening with their partner, though I only found that out when I saw their partner leaving and texted them about it. I need to watch more films from this year, as I’ve only seen 8, though I tend to binge watch a handle a day during the Christmas period. I’m mostly focused on albums, and I’m trying to be able to write a Substack post giving my favourite album of each month, along with honourable mentions. I’m really enjoying the new FKA Twigs album: Eusexua AFTERGLOW. It’s what I was expecting with the first album back in January, and she re-released that first album on the same day with a few tracks replacing some of the weaker tracks/tracks that didn’t fit cohesively. My favourites off Afterglow are HARD, Cheap Hotel and Sushi, the latter being a track teased on her tour, but the actual song is 3 minutes longer than what she performed, with that version only being the bridge… It kind of redeemed this whole album cycle for me, as the release in January was a bit of a let down (I found myself going back to her debut album and original 3 EPs a lot over the year) and much more noticeable with this new release. I’ve also been listening to Bee Thousand on repeat the past month, god it’s an incredible album. I like how GbV seems to just have a melody or idea and make it, instead of trying to expand or make it fit the conventional idea of a track. It’s kind of similar to PinkPantheress’ whole shtick of making 1-2 minute tracks.
Main thing I wanted to come back to write about is that I was working on that story and it’s evolved a lot. I’m calling it “This story is no longer available” after the message you’ll see on Instagram stories when they’ve past 24 hours or been deleted. It’s gonna take place over 24 hours, very autobiographical to where I am right now, with a large section in the middle that is just a dream section that would act in similar way to how Lynch would have a scene or two in his films that capture the idea of the film (the diner alleyway scene in Mulholland Drive, the “i dont have a camera, i like to remember things my own way” scene in Lost Highway), though that was something I was thinking about after I had already started; I’m doing the large dream sequence because I dream so much and so vividly and theyve kind of become a big part of my daily life, and act like metaphors of my own troubles. My main issue is I’m struggling so much with being able to bring myself to write. I think I’m still burnt out after college, which feels embarrassing but I also can’t help it. When I think back to how much I was doing I get tired remembering, so it makes sense I’d be physically drained and mentally exhausted still. But I just wish I wasn’t. I’m still aiming for that Tuesday deadline, but part of me thinks I’ll probably be submitting it for the next deadline : /
I love living here even though this city really makes no sense. It’s very strange, but I fantasized about Paris for a very long time (even though I often came to see my sisters who lived here for their studies before returning to Marseille), especially through all those Parisian films that gave me glimpses into my Marseilles adolescence (Christophe Honoré being the first); and now that I live here, I simultaneously feel like I’ve always lived here, like I’m living a bit in a Christophe Honoré film (even though I’m much poorer than his characters), like I’m fully living my life too, and yet I have absolutely no idea of living in any other city in the world. Feeling at home comes down to very little things (probably mostly to being loved, and here I feel that completely).
Hey Dennis! First off, thanks Darbz for the post, this guy is amazing. I knew of him before, but it’s cool to get such a detailed overview. I really enjoy anthropomorphised Victorian stuff, it’s sort of pseudo-furry in a way that really amuses me. Like an alternate trajectory for furry aesthetics, with different goals and recurring themes and such.
I’ve been doing like, absurdly good haha. I managed to get a tech job I wanted, which pays well and isn’t unethical, so that’s sort of incredible. And a game I’ve been excited for for ages has finally gotten an English translation, so that’s a treat for me post-employment. Hope you’re well, fingers crossed your winning streak for screenings continues. See ya!
Omg I was just mentioning furries last comment! I think Louis Wain would’ve been at the very least interested in the concept of furries, I mean, if you look at his writings accompanying some paintings + just general confirmed things he’s said it gives like “woof bark grrr vibes” and I love it
maybe I just love fantasizing Louis Wain was a furry. He was definitely on the spectrum so there is a possibility.
I like to think in some world maybe the Victorians were whimsy enough to release their inner furry, because they definitely were freaky enough to consummate such desires.
I love anthropomorphized Victorian stuff too, weirdly enough. Thats why taxidermy of that time was just so…charming? Like you have Walter Potter making his quant little china tea sipping mouses.
Thanks !!!!
≽^•⩊•^≼
Was the festival in Houston rewarding? Had you ever been there before? (I’ve read that it can take 3 hours to drive from one side of the city to the opposite one.)
I’m writing this at a hotel in my hometown. Tomorrow, I head back to New York. The trip was much less stressful than I feared, although 90-minute meetings with bankers are never pleasant. I have to haul back a box of books, but at least I’m able to keep some of them. It’s still a strange, awkward liminal space here, particularly because the hotel seems empty above the first floor. John Fogerty played last night at a casino near the hotel, and the waitress in the hotel’s restaurant asked me if I was here to see him!
@darbz-Have there been any documentaries made about Wain?
PS: My latest “Radio Not Radio” show is linked here: https://www.mixcloud.com/callinamagician/11162025-radio-not-radio/. This one features Jon Camp, Fred Frith, Gwenifer Raymond, Sir Richard Bishop, Elizabeth Cotten, Steve Tibbetts, Muscle, Ameretat, Dick Move, The Urinals, Emily’s Sassy Lime, Lambrini Girls, Citric Dummies, Hüsker Dü, Squirrel Bait, Rosalia, Lea Bertucci, La Tene, Primitive Percussion Youth Orchestra, Yara Asmar, Necrophorus, Patricia Brennan, Vi, Soft Pink Truth and Eiko Ishibashi & Jim O’Rourke.
*Shatter* Hahaha Time is a construct so all the Me’s were consolidating and I only had one voice for a min! Omfg I saw Wicked on Broadway and had a 3some (huge 6’4 white guy cute attention needing latin bottom) that just turned into mutual worship between me and a viking avatar. The bottom almost left cause my and Odin were super into each other but I started eating his ass and he got some dick in his mouth and calmed down. omfg it’s not even the sex thats important it’s bumping bodies and affirmation filled moans and comments with men thats insane and literally feed my spirit. Ate so much ass my tongue and face are sorta sore I’m doing amazing honestly. Minor sabbatical while I coalesced but here I am. Also Tight is might but my butt is too tight haha debating on mechanical or organic stretching techniques but dicks are a lot I can already tell. TTYLXOXOBRB your return days are always packed haha.
THANK YOUU. So very much honored : D
hello ive been settling in to my new home. Felt very unproductive the last two days. Sunday(today) I watched 3 HOURS of this guy on YouTube who buys microwave meals and other foods and just tries them while tying it all together with cheeky editing and witty commentary. The notable video was the one where he tried different vegan frozen foods.I guess I deserve to rest my brain after the quick paced move but ugh cant wait till Monday aka no work day since I can dedicate the time to creativity without feeling anxious as the clock ticks closer to the time I have to be at my job.
But work is ok! Ive been getting along with my coworkers and the stress is manageable. What about u? how are u feeling in France after your return?
Met good people. Will tell you later considering your probably jet lagging. Food is weird because I haven’t eaten the past three days yet food seems very..useless? NO hunger. Well I am restricting because im 90% I probably gained weight during October because of the candy and the Jim Henson puppet cereal thing incident. Oh now food repulses me because how I abused it. I have been enjoying some tofu though.
I guess the good thing is I have so much plans for the future in terms of friendships around me and creative projects of different mediums.
Ive been reading his book called “Lasher” by Anne Rice second book in the Witching Hour series.
ITs so fucking great as gothic horror (as epxpected of Rice) Like a Frankenstein sort of unfathomable. A mother whos own baby wants to harm and control her straight from the flesh. Like he just blabbers about how he loves her while raping her so she can procreate his supernatural babies but she keeps having miscarrigages and it physically and mentally destroys her. Really great gothic horror. Chills.
Hope Houston is treating you well and engoring you with its giant mouth.
Hey Dennis, longtime fan and admirer of your work, I hate to bother you with these sorts of questions on your post since I know you must get them pretty much constantly and they don’t have anything to do with the subject matter but I was curious if you know if there’s a good place in the U.S. to live if you’re someone who wants to be around other creative people or other people who are into art and writing, or a sort of modern equivalent of what you imagine when you hear about what New York was like in the sixties or back around those decades, since it’s (obviously) hard to find information online about what cool underground spot you ought to go to if you’re an enterprising young writer-type person, and since it seems like things might just actually be flat-out more decentralized now than they were back in those days because of the internet–creative isolation has given me a lot in terms of style and grit or determination but it’s made it hard to read or be receptive in a certain kind of way, so sort of casting around to see what I ought to do next. Hope your screening went well, and again apologies that this has nothing to do with Mr. Wain.
Hi Dennis, longtime fan and admirer of your work, I hate to bother you with these sorts of questions on your post since I know you must get them pretty much constantly and they don’t have anything to do with the subject matter but I was curious if you know if there’s a good place in the U.S. to live if you’re someone who wants to be around other creative people or other people who are into art and writing, or a sort of modern equivalent of what you imagine when you hear about what New York was like in the sixties or back around those decades, since it’s (obviously) hard to find information online about what cool underground spot you ought to go to if you’re an enterprising young writer-type person, and since it seems like things might just actually be flat-out more decentralized now than they were back in those days because of the internet–creative isolation has given me a lot in terms of style and grit or determination but it’s made it hard to read or be receptive in a certain kind of way, so sort of casting around to see what I ought to do next. Hope your screening went well, and again apologies that this has nothing to do with Mr. Wain.
Hey D, hope you had a good trip! I’ve probably had a productive week although to be honest I can’t really remember it. I had a weird half-encounter with this figure from my past yesterday who I think about daily anyway and I’ve been thinking about it constantly since, but I’ll tell you later because that’s too much to explain.
I watched ‘Frankstein’ today out of curiosity and thought it was a flaming bag of shit, though some scenes were sort of entertaining if you shut your brain off.
Louis Wain is a big deal to me in a way I don’t fully know how to articulate. Darbz, if you’re reading this, this is truly incredible, and your empathy for the subject leaps off of the screen. There are certain artists like Wain in different disciplines whose work I’ve been struck by for the mixture of a totally sincere and pure beauty which mingles with a real sadness or emotional complexity.
I think he was definitely a big influence on a lot of 60s counterculture figures etc. (good and bad ones), and certainly the kind of art you see on acid blotter paper shows his influence. I see the same clip online a lot where they show Wain’s art and place his more commercial work at the start and his more expressive stuff at the end and claim that his art changed rapidly when his schizophrenia worsened, but from what I’ve read he remained able to draw the cats in their normal form even in bad periods, so I don’t really like that narrative.
Excited to see you back. Your absences always seem to coincide with very stressful periods in my life. Very much in the mood for kindness too (more on that below), and I do it by being friends with very kind people and watching them go about their day. It’s very similar to reading a good book before embarking on an important writing project. You don’t do it to directly learn, but as a reminder of the expansiveness of what is possible. I love my dogs very much, but I do think cats make for a better motif. Very sweetly done post, Darbz. One can feel affection for Louis Wain through the screen.
Dennis, it’s been a stinker of a day (stripped for my bath and got bitten immediately by ants, the machine broke down with my laundry in it, a deadline is a month earlier than I thought it was, my visa application is much delayed and the timeline is looking tight, have some family near a terror attack, had a nightmare about the times I’ve been harassed caused by an incident last weekend), but it’s been salvaged by how kind everybody is to me. Thank you for kindness!