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My Wife's Lovers

Carl Kahler
  • $85.00

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

42 cats are depicted by painter Carl Kahler in our newest release, My Wife's Lovers. Victorian millionaire Kate Birdsall Johnson, who commissioned this painting from Kahler in 1891, reportedly owned 350 cats (!!!) at one time—some today might have called her a "childless cat lady".
 
With a HUGE election around the corner—and the fact that cats keep coming up in this election cycle—we are thrilled to be donating 20% of all net proceeds of print sales from this edition to Vote Forward, an organization that empowers grassroots volunteers to send handwritten letters encouraging fellow Americans to vote. At 20x200, we're big believers in the institution of democracy, and are eager to do everything we can do ensure its survival. Mobilizing potential voters in communities that have historically been marginalized in the political process—such as people of color, women, and young voters—falls right in line with Kamala’s policies and values, and we want to make sure she gets every vote she can. Election day will arrive sooner than we know it (GULP), and our donation to Vote Forward will only run until October 15th, so don't wait! (While you're at it, make sure you're registered to vote!!)

Although My Wife’s Lovers​ was commissioned by an American from an Austrian, it has a distinct French je ne sais quoi. The painting’s sumptuous scale, as well as the swaths of pink silk charmeuse draped across the frame, are entirely de la francais. Kahler pulled off this decadent scene despite having never painted a cat before in his life (he traded in human portraiture and depictions of horse races). The artist was said to have prepared to paint My Wife’s Lovers by studying the movement and behavior of cats for three whole years–only then did the oil hit the canvas.

For such a massive and riotous piece, My Wife’s Lovers has really gotten around. Johnson lent it to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, and it moved to the Palace of Art Salon in San Francisco the following year. Sadly, neither Kahler nor the Salon survived the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, but miraculously My Wife’s Lovers did. (Maybe paintings of cats have nine lives too?) In more recent years, the piece has been displayed at the Portland Art Museum in Oregon as part of an effort to advocate for cat adoptions in the state. And today we’re adding more lives to this work: the prints that will live on in many of your homes, and their proceeds will go towards ensuring a bright future for our democracy.

+ Limited-edition, exclusive to 20x200
+ Museum quality: archival inks, 100% cotton rag paper unless noted
+ Handcrafted custom-framing is available

Our quoted dimensions are for the size of paper containing the images, not the printed image itself. We do not alter the aspect ratio, nor do we crop or resize the artists’ originals. All of our prints have a minimum border of .5 inches to allow for framing.

Inkpress Duo Matte

8"x10" | Edition of 10
11"x14" | Edition of 200
16"x20" | Edition of 25
20"x24" | Edition of 5

Artist - Carl Kahler

Carl Kahler

Carl Kahler (1856-1906) was an Austrian painter best known for his representations of animals. He was quite the traveler for his time: after studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, he spent time in Paris and exhibited his works in Berlin, Munich and Vienna; in 1885 he emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, where he lived for the next five years. 

In 1980 he made his final move—to San Francisco, where he was commissioned by Kate Birdsall Johnson to paint 42 of her most beloved cats. From the time on he became increasingly known for his feline depictions. Kahler died aged 49 years in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

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