Szabó Lajos (XIX-XX) - Drei Kätzchen

Fine oil painting on an authentic hardwood panel. Depicts three playful cats beside an ashtray with a burning cigar, an unusual motif. The work is signed by "Szabó Lajos", dated 19.4.1900, somewhat hard to read. The piece is in very good condition for its age, with small damages and soiling.

The work is in an elaborate frame with a hanging device. The frame is damaged in the lower right corner and is a complimentary accessory.

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

All other photos are unedited. Some photos were taken in daylight (the bright ones) and others at night with artificial light (slightly yellowish 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 historic oil painting on wood panel, showing a typical humorous genre motif from around 1900. The work can be regarded as a kunsthistorisches Zeitdokument (art-historical time document) reflecting the bourgeois salon interior’s preference for anthropomorphic animal depictions ("kittens as substitutes for humans").

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 trends. The exact dating to April 19, 1908 gives the object a clear historical anchoring. Such works served in the early 20th century as popular wall decorations, suggesting a utopian world through their "cute" visual language.

Physical condition: The painting is presented in a historic, stuccoed wooden frame with a gold-tone finish. The frame shows ornamentation typical for its age, guiding the viewer’s focus to the image interior.

Analysis of the image motif: The composition shows three kittens arranged on a wooden tabletop. Notably, the artist’s attention to detail in rendering the animals is evident: the left and central kittens sit in a frontal, almost portrait-like pose, while the right kitten engages with the scene. A particular iconographic element is the teacup on a saucer, paired with a cigar resting on the tabletop. This arrangement creates a nearly surreal, humorous note intended to elicit a smile from the viewer. The color palette is in muted, earthy tones, with a background in a typical subdued blue-gray that effectively highlights the lighter parts of the fur and the delicate painting of the teacup.

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

Condition and collector’s assessment: The painting’s condition is authentic and good for its age. The frame shows expected signs of aging — slight nicks on the stuccoed ornaments and the gold finish, which, however, underline the object’s charm.

Genre scenes from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with animal subjects consistently attract collectors and enthusiasts of historic salon furnishings.

Archivist’s summary: This object is a multisensory time capsule document that preserves domestic atmosphere and the artistic zeitgeist of 1900. It is a charming example of popular art of that era and a valuable addition to collections focusing on genre painting or early 20th-century everyday culture.

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

Please note regarding the measurement assessment: I often photographed the measurements with a measuring tape. The dimensions can be electronically processed and may be inaccurately stated in the description.

Please note that all information regarding the time classification of this work is provided to the best of our knowledge, but no guarantee or liability for accuracy and exactness can be given. 100% certainty would require material analysis. Offer only if you have sufficient expertise to determine a correct dating from the photos provided. The seller and Catawiki experts assume no liability for an incorrect dating. Therefore, rely solely on the photos as the decisive descriptive features.