Louis Wain Fact #36:
In 1896, Wain said “I have myself found, as the result of many years’ inquiry and study, that all people who keep cats, and are in the habit of nursing them, do not suffer from those petty little ailments which all flesh is heir to. Rheumatism and nervous complaints of a minor sort.” Almost a hundred years later, research by Professor Isaccs of Birmingham University authenticated his belief, displaying positive correlations between elderly health and cat companionship.
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The Eight 'Kaleidoscope' pictures on loan from the Bethlem Royal Hospital, catalogued by Patricia Allderidge.
General note: These pictures have been shown together in one amount for many years and were presumably arranged like this by Dr Maclay. Although it is known that he found 'some' pictures by Louis Wain in a shop in Camden Hill it is not certain how many of these were included, and nothing is known of their origin or when any of them were painted. The order in which they are seen here is entirely artificial.
107. PATTERN
Coloured pencil and paper
8 7/8" x 6 7/8"
It is debatable whether this pattern is based on a cat at all, though taken in sequence with the preceding one it seem to contain the same rudimentary shapes of ears and eyes.
(This image also appears in the book upside-down. Since there is no obvious discernible image such as a cat, it is up to the viewers interpretation which direction the image should be viewed in)