Cats are known for their unpredictable behavior. Author and Egyptologist Margaret Benson once remarked, “The cat is, above all things, a dramatist.” Revered in ancient Egyptian culture, domestic cats share over 95% of their DNA with tigers. They are capable of leaping five times their height and can spring into action when startled. The internet’s love for cat memes is well-documented, and for Léo Forest, these charming, independent, clever, and territorial animals are a boundless source of inspiration for his energetic pencil drawings.
Based in Paris, Forest captures the unique physical and emotional characteristics of cats in his art, from battling pairs to solitary cats grooming, scratching, or on the attack. The dynamic movements and blurred lines in his work are reminiscent of Italian Futurist painter Giacomo Balla’s famous piece, “Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash” (1912), where a Dachsund and its owner’s feet are shown in rapid motion.
Currently, Forest is engaged in a project with Moosey in London, where his prints are available. For more updates, follow him on Instagram.
