This early 20th-century oil on canvas by Dutch artist Cornelis Raaphorst (1875-1954) depicts several kittens gathered around a glass fishbowl. It exemplifies the artist’s celebrated approach to animal painting and combines technical precision with a sense of domestic theatre.
A moment of quiet tension unfolds at the centre of the composition. Four kittens, each distinct in character, circle a fishbowl with varying degrees of curiosity and restraint. One leans forward, nose almost touching the glass, captivated by the slow movement of the goldfish within. Another stands alert, its posture tentative yet intent, while a third crouches low, as if preparing to pounce. Above them, a fourth kitten reclines upon a stack of books, observing the scene with a languid detachment. The fish, suspended within the curved glass, appear both vivid and unreachable. It's an object of fascination just beyond grasp.
Raaphorst enriches this simple narrative through his exquisite handling of surface and texture. The deep red drapery behind, heavy with pattern and shadow, creates a dramatic backdrop that heightens the sense of intimacy. Beneath, a richly coloured textile spreads across the table, its woven surface rendered with remarkable sensitivity. The glass bowl itself becomes a focal point of technical display - its reflective surface capturing light, distortion, and transparency in equal measure.
Cornelis Raaphorst was a self-taught artist who rose from modest beginnings to achieve recognition through perseverance and skill. Initially producing landscapes and still lifes, he found his defining subject in the 1920s when encouraged to specialise in kitten paintings. Influenced by the work of Henriëtte Ronner-Knip (1821-1909), he developed a distinctive style marked by meticulous finish and a refined sense of staging. His works, often featuring luxurious fabrics and carefully arranged interiors, appealed to an international audience.
Within his oeuvre, compositions such as this represent the height of his mature practice. The kittens, rendered with softness and precision, possess a quiet individuality, while the surrounding objects anchor the scene within a world of cultivated domestic comfort.
This painting was sold through Christie's in 2004, reaching £5,624.
Signed in the lower left and held in an ornate later gilt frame with scrolling foliate corners, a central cartouche to the upper and lower rails, and a richly worked surface that echoes the painting’s sense of opulence.
Learn more about Cornelis Raaphorst in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 39½” x 31½” / 101cm x 80cm
Year of creation: c. 1930
Provenance: Pictures, Watercolours and Drawings, Christie's, Amsterdam, 22 June 2004, lot 276 / Private collection, UK.
Condition: Cleaned. Fine craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £16,116 achieved in 2018 for ‘Der Umgekippte Vogelbauer’.
Our reference: BRV2290
