Szabó Lajos (XIX-XX) - Drei Kätzchen

Fine oil painting on genuine hardwood panel. Depicted are 3 playing cats beside an ashtray with a burning cigar, unusual subject. The work is signed with "Szabo 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 mounted in an elaborate frame with hanging hardware. The frame is damaged at the lower right and is a complimentary accessory.

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

All other photos are unedited. At one point photos were taken in daylight (the bright ones) and once at night with artificial light (slightly yellowish incandescent).

Dimensions with frame: 50 cm x 40 cm

"Three kittens at tea" – Signed oil painting by Lajos Szabó (1908)
The object at hand is a historical oil painting on a wooden panel, depicting a typical, humorous genre motif of the 1900s. The work can be regarded as an art-historical time document reflecting the bourgeois salon interior’s preference for anthropomorphic animal representations ("kittens as substitutes for humans").

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

Physical condition: The painting is presented in a historical, stuccoed wooden frame with a gold-toned finish. The framing shows typical ornamentation for its age, drawing focus to the image interior.

Analysis of the motif: The composition shows three kittens arranged on a wooden tabletop. Notably, the artist’s attention to detail in the representation of the animals is striking: the left and middle kittens sit in a frontal, almost portrait-like stance, while the right kitten interacts. A particularly iconic element is the teacup on a saucer, combined with a cigar resting on the table. 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 light patches of fur and the fine painting of the teacup.

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

Physical state and collector’s evaluation: The condition of the painting is authentic and good for its age. The frame shows the expected signs of aging – slight bumps on the stuccoed ornaments and the gold finish, which nevertheless underline the object’s charm.

Genre scenes from the late 19th and early 20th century with "animal motifs" consistently appeal in specialized collector circles as well as among lovers 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 popular art of that era and a valuable addition to collections focusing on genre painting or the everyday culture of the early 20th century.

Object 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: Document of early 20th-century genre painting

Note regarding the assessment of the measurements: especially observe the photos (I have often photographed the measurements with a tape measure). The measurements are often inaccurate due to electronic processing and may be wrong in the description.

Note that all information on the temporal classification of this work is given to the best of our knowledge, but no guarantee or claim to correctness and exactness can be made. 100% certainty would only be achieved by material analysis. Please offer only if you have sufficient expertise to determine a correct temporal classification based on the photos provided. The seller and also the Catawiki experts do not assume liability for an incorrect temporal classification. Therefore, please consider only the photos as the decisive descriptive features.