Cats Named Sam IV 66
Cats Named Sam IV 66
Unsigned Print
Andy Warhol
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23 x 15cm, Edition of 190, Lithograph
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Meaning & Analysis
Printed in 1954, Cats Named Sam IV 66 is an offset lithograph by Andy Warhol that differs in subject matter to his prints capturing cultural icons of the 20th century. The print depicts a cat, rendered in warm orange against a plain backdrop. The cat appears to be looking at the floor with its round, pastel pink eyes. The cat’s name, Sam, is written in calligraphy below its paw.
Cats Named Sam IV 66 is part of the Cats Named Sam series, produced by Warhol in 1954 to accompany a book he published, 25 Cats Name (sic) Sam and One Blue Pussy. The inspiration for the book and ensuing print series was Warhol’s mother, Julia, who lived with him in his Manhattan apartment, along with her 25 cats (all of whom, bar one, were called Sam). One of 16 lithograph prints, Cats Named Sam IV 66 encapsulates the beginning of Warhol’s career as an artist and his development from a freelance commercial and children’s book illustrator to a renowned Pop artist.
This print features Warhol’s signature blotted line technique which he used in many of his commercial illustrations for the likes of Tiffany, Vogue and Colombia Records. The printing technique results in delicate lines, sometimes dotted or broken which could be coloured with watercolour dyes. Cats Named Sam IV 66 captures how colour could be laid over ink lines to create a vibrant, offset effect.
Andy Warhol was a leading figure of the Pop Art movement and is often considered the father of Pop Art. Born in 1928, Warhol allowed cultural references of the 20th century to drive his work. From the depiction of glamorous public figures, such as Marilyn Monroe, to the everyday Campbell’s Soup Can, the artist challenged what was considered art by blurring the boundaries between high art and mass consumerism. Warhol's preferred screen printing technique further reiterated his obsession with mass culture, enabling art to be seen as somewhat of a commodity through the reproduced images in multiple colour ways.
