Louis Wain was an English artist who was born in
1860 and died in
1939. Throughout his life he was famous for painting cats, and also for developing
schizophrenia during the first decade of
the 20th century, whilst continuing to paint cats during a spell in a
mental asylum.
The cats he painted before his illness were jolly and cute, and he made a comfortable living selling them to greetings card companies. The cats he drew after his illness took hold were not jolly or cute, however. They were disturbing. Initially, they were recognisably feline, but off-putting; they did not smile, they appeared scared, their eyes bulged with alarm.
Later, his cats started to become abstract explosions of light, resembling owls and demons. After becoming a cause célèbre amongst the emerging psychoanalytic movement, a fund was set up for him to live out the rest of his days in relative comfort. He died on the eve of World War 2.
His work is periodically revived and makes for fascinating viewing. For an overview and some samples, visit:
http://www.lilitu.com/catland/