Happy Cat

This print — distinguished from the identically titled companion work by its catalogue sequence — depicts a cat in a pose or context that conveys contentment or pleasure. The cat's body language, facial expression, or setting communicates its subject's emotional state without anthropomorphizing excessively. Oi uses the woodblock process to reinforce the mood through color: warm tones, rounded forms, and clean key-block lines suggest comfort and ease. The designation of this work as a second version implies variation from its companion in composition, palette, or framing — perhaps a different pose, angle, or background treatment while retaining the same thematic intention. The [washi](/glossary/washi) ground absorbs color with a warmth that complements the print's affectionate subject matter.