Every home has a place the cat somehow makes their own. Curtain Call by Ellen Mary Hopkins turns that familiar domestic authority into something theatrical, with a cat on the back of a chair looking directly at the viewer.
The gaze is central to Ellen’s idea. She wanted the moment of eye contact to shift us from observers of a room into the cat’s audience. The fabrics around the sitter help give the scene a sense of occasion, while the face makes it impossible to treat the animal as part of the furniture.
Watercolour and coloured pencil bring different possibilities to this intimate work, which measures 17.5 by 16 centimetres before its mount. Warm colour and pattern surround a sitter who seems entirely comfortable taking centre stage.
If your own cat can command a room without making a sound, the subject may be familiar. Take a closer look and see how quickly the portrait claims your attention.
Explore the Winter Exhibition
The exhibition closes on Sunday 15 November 2026.
