
Cat and 8 Kittens
by Motoi Oi
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Watanabe Print
- Image courtesy of
- Watanabe Print
Description
Depicting a mother cat surrounded by eight kittens poses a substantial compositional challenge — nine feline figures must be organized into a legible, visually appealing arrangement without confusion. Oi likely uses overlapping, stacking, or radial grouping to distribute the kittens around the central adult figure. Each animal requires individual characterization, yet the group must read as a unified composition. The repetition of small kitten forms creates rhythm across the image, while variations in pose and orientation maintain visual interest. Multiple color blocks would be needed to differentiate coat patterns and tones. The print conveys abundance and domestic vitality. Its subject recalls the popular depictions of animals in groups found in Japanese woodblock and painting traditions.
More Prints by Motoi Oi
More Animals Prints

Snake Charmers (Hebizukai)
Hebizukai
1932
Color woodblock print; oban

Hoshifuri Pine at Zen'yoji Temple in Edogawa (Edogawa-ku Zen'yoji Hoshifuri matsu), from the series "One Hundred Views of Great Tokyo in the Showa Era (Showa dai Tokyo fukei hyaku zue hanga)"
1935
Color woodblock print; oban

Drawing for Rabbit and Boy
1964
Acrylic paint and oil pastel with oiled charcoal and ink over an ink and graphite underdrawing on paper

Rabbit and Boy
1964
Color lithograph with relief block and hand coloring; edition 35/36
Frequently Asked Questions
Cat and 8 Kittens was created by Motoi Oi (大井基).
Cat and 8 Kittens depicts animals.



