Cats and Dogs in Art and Design (ed by Laurie Benson & Imogen Mallia-Valjan, NGV with T&H)

Cats and Dogs in Art and Design is a vibrantly illustrated book featuring over 100 artworks from the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) collection, alongside short essays by NGV curators. Co-published with Thames & Hudson (T&H) to coincide with the exhibition of the same name, it will sit comfortably beside T&H titles such as Resident Dog and House Cat, as well as the Art Dog and Art Cat companion volumes. Here, the artworks are grouped thematically, with each section introduced by a short piece of writing (most only a couple of pages long). Some of these essays offer eye-opening insight into the connotations and symbolic meanings attached to cats and dogs across history and cultures. Others, consisting of pleasant platitudes about the bond between pets and owners, feel more like a space-filling exercise. This beautifully produced book is primarily a visual treat, and its many full-page photos are a pleasure to flip through. The editors have done well in including diverse examples from various artists and artistic traditions. A minor concern with the layout is the small text size of the image captions (listing date and artist name), which could pose a challenge for some readers. Given the subject matter, this book—and the accompanying exhibition—will have wide appeal, even for those not usually interested in art, which makes Cats and Dogs in Art and Design a handy gift option (particularly for those hard-to-buy-for acquaintances).

Books+Publishing reviewer: Megan Koch is a writer, reviewer and bookseller based in Adelaide. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews