Pierre Bonnard Le Chat Blanc Poster, Exhibition Style Canvas

Some cats stretch. Bonnard's cat stretches like its legs have been extended by a few extra inches. In 1894, French painter Pierre Bonnard painted a white cat arching its back on impossibly long, stilt-like legs, and more than a century later, Le Chat Blanc has become one of the internet's favorite cat paintings. This canvas print brings it home in the style of a vintage art exhibition poster.

The Painting Behind the Meme

Bonnard was part of the Nabis, a group of young French artists in the 1890s who favored flat color, bold outlines and playful, decorative compositions over strict realism. Le Chat Blanc shows that spirit perfectly. The cat's body is exaggerated into an almost cartoonish arch, its head tilted and its eyes narrowed into slits. Anyone who has watched a cat wake up from a nap and stretch knows the pose instantly.

That mix of fine art and pure cat behavior is what made it a meme. It's a 19th-century painting that looks like it could have been drawn yesterday.

Exhibition Poster Style

The print presents the painting in the format of a museum exhibition poster, the kind you'd pick up at a gallery gift shop. It's an easy way to bring a classic artwork into a modern room. It works well in a living room, bedroom or dining room, especially next to other gallery-style prints.

Key Features

• Bonnard's Le Chat Blanc: the famous arched-back white cat from 1894
• Exhibition Poster Layout: a vintage, museum-inspired design
• Matte Canvas: a bright white poly-cotton blend canvas
• Digital Print: printed with waterproof ink
• Vertical Format: a portrait orientation for easy framing

Product Details

• Artwork: Pierre Bonnard, Le Chat Blanc (1894)
• Type: canvas print, exhibition poster style
• Material: poly-cotton blend matte canvas
• Printing: digital printing, waterproof ink
• Shape: vertical rectangle
• Border: some sizes include a 0.4 to 0.8 in (1 to 2 cm) white border for framing
• Frame: not included

Build an art-lover's gallery wall with more pieces from our cat wall art collection, or browse cat decor to finish the room. It also makes a thoughtful pick from our cat mom gifts for someone who knows their art history. For more famous felines, see our roundup of the most famous cats on the internet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the original painting?

No. It's a printed reproduction of Pierre Bonnard's Le Chat Blanc in an exhibition poster layout.

Does it come framed?

No. Only the canvas print is included. Some sizes have a small white border to make framing easier.

Why is the cat's body so stretched?

Bonnard exaggerated the pose on purpose. The long legs and high arch capture the feeling of a cat's stretch rather than its exact shape, which is part of why the painting feels so funny and modern.

Add this famous stretch to your wall and give your guests something to talk about.