Szabó Lajos (XIX-XX) - Drei Kätzchen

Fine oil painting on a real hardwood panel. Depicted are three playful cats beside an ashtray with a burning cigar, an unusual motif. The work is signed with "Szabo Lajos", dated 19 April 1900, somewhat difficult to read. The piece is in very good condition for its age, with minor damages and soiling.

The work is in an elaborate frame with hanging hardware. The bottom right corner of the frame is damaged and is included gratis.

Only the cover image was generated with AI, since the background had to be changed to white.

All other photos are unedited. At one time photos were taken in daylight (the bright ones) and at another time at night with artificial light (slightly yellower bulb).

Dimensions with frame: 50 cm x 40 cm

“Three Kittens at Tea” – Signed oil painting by Lajos Szabó (1908)
The present object is a historical oil painting on wood panel, depicting a humorously typical genre motif from the era around 1900. The work can be regarded as a kunsthistorical time document that reflects the bourgeois salon interior’s fondness for anthropomorphic animal depictions ("kittens as human substitutes").

Artistic classification and signature: The work is signed and dated in the lower left area with "Szabó Lajos 1900. 4. 19." Lajos Szabó was a Hungarian painter whose work was often influenced by late-Romantic genre painting. The precise dating to April 19, 1908 gives the object a clear historical anchoring. Such works served in the early 20th century as popular wall decorations, which, through their “cute” visual language, suggested a perfect world.

Physical condition: The painting is presented in a historic stuccoed wooden frame with a gold-tone finish. The frame shows age-typical ornamental design that directs focus to the image itself.

Analysis of the motif: The composition shows three kittens arranged on a wooden tabletop. Notably, the artist’s attention to detail in depicting the animals is striking: the left and middle kittens sit in a frontal, nearly portrait-like pose, while the right kitten interacts. A distinctive iconographic element is the teacup on a saucer, paired with a cigar lying on the tabletop. This arrangement creates an almost surreal, humorous note intended to elicit a smile from the viewer. The color palette is restrained and earthy, with a characteristic muted blue-gray background that effectively highlights the light fur areas and the fine painting of the teacup.

Graphic design and execution: The brushwork suggests an academically trained artist who focused on the detailed rendering of fur textures and the light reflections in the cup. The painting technique is traditional; the light comes from the upper left, which is typical of a classic studio composition in this genre.

Material condition and collector’s appraisal: The condition of the painting is authentic and good for its age. The frame shows the expected signs of aging – slight nicks to the stucco ornaments and the gold finish, which, however, underline the object's charm.

Genre pictures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with animal motifs enjoy steady demand among specialized collectors and enthusiasts of historical salon furnishings.

Summary for the archive: This object is a multisensory time capsule document that preserves the domestic atmosphere and the artistic zeitgeist of 1900. It is a charming example of the popular art of that era and an enrichment for collections focused on genre painting or everyday culture of the early 20th century.

Item data sheet:
Artist: Szabó Lajos
Title: Three Kittens at Tea
Dating: 19 April 1900
Technique: Oil on wood
Frame: Historic gold-colored wooden frame (stuccoed)
Condition: Good, age-appropriate with authentic patina
Significance: Documentation of early 20th-century genre painting

Please note regarding the assessment of measurements: I often photographed dimensions with a tape measure. The measurements are often imprecise due to electronic processing and may be extracted incorrectly in descriptions.

Please note that all information regarding the time classification of this work is provided to the best of our knowledge, but no guarantee or claim to correctness or exactness can be given. 100% certainty would only be achieved through material analysis. Please bid only if you possess sufficient expertise to determine a correct dating from the provided photos yourself. The seller and also the Catawiki experts do not assume liability for an incorrect time classification. Therefore, rely solely on the photos as the decisive descriptive features.