“Every life story is the grand accumulation of the decisions we make along the way — a continuum of doors opening, doors closing, and taking one courageous step after another into the unknown.”
Every life story is the grand accumulation of the decisions we make along the way—a continuum of doors opening, doors closing, and taking one courageous step after another into the unknown.
Alexander Graham Bell wrote: “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, seemingly knew this well, having a keen ability to spot opportunity and trust in its outcome, even when the uncertainty of traveling through a new door posed no guarantee of success or fulfillment. His life was full of such examples as he—and his characters with him—marched headlong through opening doors as others closed around him.
Dr. Seuss’s The Great Cat Continuum seems poised as a powerful artistic expression of this grand adventure. Likely painted during the 1970s, enough time and life experiences had accumulated for Ted to step back and thoughtfully comment on the trajectory of his life. His iconic Cat (often cited as Seuss himself) is depicted navigating a set of floating doors or windows—twisted openings on a curving continuum of life. Metaphorically embracing each decision and walking into each new experience, the Cat navigates away from threatening clouds towards a clearing sky—there light begins to break as if to confirm that this winding journey was exactly as it should be for him, or for any of us.
“The Cat navigates away from threatening clouds towards a clearing sky — there light begins to break as if to confirm that this winding journey was exactly as it should be for him, or for any of us.”
The Great Cat Continuum
Mixed-Media Pigment Print on Archival Canvas, 26" x 39"
Limited Edition of 850 Arabic Numbers, 99 Patrons’ Collection, 155 Collaborators’ Proofs, 5 Hors d’Commerce, and 2 Printer's Proofs
A CAT'S CONTINUUM
The twists and turns of Ted Geisel’s first 40 years led to nearly 50 years of fame during his lifetime and a permanent place in the pantheon of significant 20th century artists. (Click the arrows to read through Dr. Seuss's artistic timeline.)
RELATED WORKS
The Great Cat Continuum joins an exclusive group of Dr. Seuss’s Cat paintings, coveted for their artistic sophistication and their depiction of Ted’s most beloved icon.
In addition, this image expands upon Dr. Seuss’s dramatic landscape works, wherein his painterly style and hallmark land-and-seascapes take center stage together with his iconic characters.
