Szabó Lajos (XIX-XX) - Drei Kätzchen

Fine oil painting on genuine hardwood panel. The work depicts 3 playing cats beside an ashtray with a burning cigar, an unusual subject. The piece is signed with "Szabo Lajos", dated 19.4.1900, somewhat difficult to read. The work is in very good condition for its age, with small damages and dirt typical of the period.

The work is heavily framed with hanging apparatus. The frame is damaged at the bottom right and is a free extra.

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 (somewhat yellowish incandescent lamp).

Dimensions including frame: 50 cm × 40 cm

"Three kittens at tea" – Signed oil painting by Lajos Szabó (1908)
The present object is a historical oil painting on a wooden panel, showing a typical humorous genre motif from the era around 1900. The work can be regarded as a kunsthistorisches Zeitdokument, reflecting the bourgeois salon interior of the time and the preference for anthropomorphic animal depictions ("kittens as human substitutes").

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 anchoring. Such works were popular wall decorations in the early 20th century, projecting a “cute” visual language that suggested a peaceful world.

Physical condition: The painting is presented in a historical, stuccoed wooden frame with a gold finish. The framing shows typical age-related ornamentation that directs the focus to the picture 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 stands out: the left and middle kittens sit in a frontal, almost 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 table. This arrangement creates a nearly surreal, humorous note intended to make the viewer smile. The color palette is restrained, earthy tones, with a typical blue-gray background that effectively highlights the light parts of the fur and the fine painting of the teacup.

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

Material condition and collector’s assessment: The condition of the painting 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, underlines the charm of the object.

Genre paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with “animal motifs” have a steady demand among specialized collectors and fans of historical salon furnishings.

Summary for the archive: This object is a multisensorial time capsule document that preserves the domestic atmosphere and artistic zeitgeist of 1900. It is a charming example of the popular art of that era and an enrichment for collections specializing in genre painting or 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: Historical, gold-colored wooden frame (stuccoed)
Condition: Good, age-appropriate with authentic patina
Significance: Document of early 20th-century genre painting

Please pay particular attention to the photos when assessing the dimensions (I have photographed the measurements with a tape measure). The dimensions are often imprecise due to electronic processing and may be inaccurately extracted 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 accuracy and exactness can be provided. 100% certainty would only be achieved through material analysis. Offer only if you have sufficient expertise to determine a correct temporal classification yourself based on the provided photos. The seller and the Catawiki experts assume no liability for an incorrect temporal classification. Therefore, view only the photos as the decisive relevant description features.