Schizophrenia of painter Louis Wain through cat painting

Initially, Louis Wain's cat painting resembled many other animal paintings, gradually becoming more abstract, eventually unlike cats.

Louis Wain is one of the most famous commercial painters in British history in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He died when he was 20 years old. Louis alone takes care of old mother and five sisters in the family. According to Schizlife, when his sister had breast cancer to be hospitalized, she suddenly felt comfortable playing with cats. Since then, Louis has started to think of cat-like ideas, sketching interesting moments to help her sister's mood improve.

Gradually, he developed those sketch ideas into paintings of artistic cats. His paintings were widely spread, printed in magazines, children's books, postcards and bringing his name to the time.

Picture 1 of Schizophrenia of painter Louis Wain through cat painting
Painter Louis Wain (1860-1939) famous in British history with cat paintings.(Photo: DeviantArt).

Initially, Louis' cat paintings are like many other cute animal paintings with silly cat hats, cats holding balloons, pretending to talk to kittens. Cat attributes such as walking on all fours, not wearing clothes, faces with no expression . are also shown in the picture.

Gradually Louis developed his cats towards anthropology. They are more like humans. The cat in his painting stood on his legs, smiled and dressed like a human, knew how to play the piano .

Picture 2 of Schizophrenia of painter Louis Wain through cat painting
Cats go with two legs, know how to drink tea, talk.(Photo: DeviantArt).

Louis Wain's first sign of schizophrenia appeared after his mother's death. Many people doubt the paranoia he showed in the drawings. His words were a bit unusual but he was unaware of himself. Painters are afraid of electronic equipment and home furnishings.

Some researchers believe that Louis Wain is infected by exposure to Toxoplasmosis from cat parasites . However, all are just assumptions and there is no evidence to prove it.

His sister also shared about the strange behavior sometimes culminating in Louis. The family sent Louis to Springfield Psychiatric Hospital, treated for a year but the condition did not decrease. In 1930, Louis moved to Napsbury Mental Hospital, which had a pleasant atmosphere including a garden and lots of cats.

He continued to paint abstract cat paintings. The public believes that this change reflects the artist's symptoms of schizophrenia.

Picture 3 of Schizophrenia of painter Louis Wain through cat painting
Abstract pictures of cats, gradually cats do not like cats anymore.(Photo: DeviantArt).

Cat portraits smiling and happy on beautiful flower backgrounds slowly transforming. Happiness turns into a suspicious, serious feeling on the cat's face. Bright colors gradually become dazzling, cats in paintings can emit aura. Cats show fear and discomfort. Painted ears turn their backs and eyes look in the same direction. Over time, the cat portrait begins to resemble an illusion. Finally, the Louis cat painted no longer like cats.

Louis Wain died in 1939. According to scientists, schizophrenia is a mental disorder. These disorders often manifest as illusions, illusions, paranoia, disorderly speech and complete social dysfunction.