Anna Julie de Graag (1877-1924)

Born in Western Netherlands in 1877, Anna Julie de Graag was a Dutch designer, illustrator, and painter. The artist worked until the early 1920s when, for a mental illness, she took her own life at the age of 46.

De Graag's artworks are characterised by stylised designs with bold lines. The artist's favourite subjects were mainly flowers, animal studies, and portraits. The portfolio is limited not only for the short period of active production, but also because the majority of her collection has been lost during a fire in her studio.

The artist's melancholic feelings perspire through the stillness of the composition, the monochrome hues, and the serious (sometimes almost angry) look in the eyes of the subjects. However, this does not take away from the beauty of her designs which has gained recognition and audience after 100 years.

Sitting Cat (1918)

First printed in 1918, 'Sitting Cat' was originally created as a woodblock print, and it is now in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. In this artwork, an orange-striped cat is portrayed in a composed position, calmly waiting in front of the viewer.