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Recency bias is a thing. Here I was, unassumingly thinking that cats became a popular photography subject just recently, and came along with the dawn of the internet. But boy was I wrong. Turns out, they were a photographer-favorite ever since the camera was invented. But, just as much as it is nowadays, the ever-constant never-ending deluge of cat photos doesn't give us enough time to appreciate them, and they're in danger of being forever gone from our collective memory. But some people are determined to not let a good cat photo get forgotten, and collect vintage cat photos which are still relevant to this day.
The Brazilian journalist Paula Leite Moreira is one of those rare guardians of peculiarly interesting cat history. She has collected thousands of photos from the previous century, and shares them on her dedicated Instagram account. There you can see how cats shared the company of many famous and interesting personalities of the past, often partook in silly photoshoots, and much more. In other words, it's been like it always was: cats were at the center of everyone's attention.
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#1
Kurt Cobain
Amy Stone-Chandler 3 years ago
Never be sad for the pictures when they were happy(after they die) remember, those were happy little moments that made then feel good :) tormented people don't often have enough of those. ✌
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Gandalf the Pink 3 years ago
"I like cats. Animals that require attention. Turtles have this fvck you attitude, I'm stuck in this tank, I'm miserable and I'm not going to perform for you.'" - Kurt
Here's what the artist told about herself. "I'm a journalist, I work with content production and I've always wanted to create a project where I could exercise my research and writing skills. At the beginning of the quarantine, still in 2020, after having seen a photo from the 19th century on the internet, I found myself interested in looking for more old records of cats. I loved delving into it and decided to share what I found, resulting in the realization of this project."
RELATED:
#2
British Henry Behrens, Considered The Smallest Man In The World At The Time, Was Seen Dancing To His Pet In Front Of His House
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
I'd be very careful not to annoy a cat only slightly smaller than me
The journalist shared what kind of cat photos are her own personal favorites, and her answer is very interesting. "This is a hard question, but I think the pictures involving soldiers and war are the most emotional to me. One of my favorites shows a sergeant named Frank Praytor feeding a kitten in the middle of the Korea War. Some people, even in the most difficult times, can be gentle with other living beings. And this is amazing."
#3
German Photographer Herbert Tobias With His Cat
Some of these photos are pure gold and make one wonder how the journalist finds them. Here's how Paula does it. "I search through the internet in historical collections, archives, image banks and international magazines. When I find a random photo without a lot of reliable information, I look elsewhere until I get enough information about each photo."
#4
Dalai Lama XIV
"None other than the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, enjoyed the company of his pet cat at his home in Dharamshala, India, circa 1979."
Paula thinks these photos are historically significant too. "Of course! There are several pictures with cats sharing the scene with historical figures. It’s really cool to see the bond between these animals and very important people. I can’t imagine something more photogenic than cats, so this is not strange to me. They have stolen the spotlight since the first pictures of the world were taken."
#5
"Photo of a French soldier, who took some time to feed a small baby."
As for the relative success of her project, Paula gives all credit to cats. "Cats are the kings of the internet, right? So I'm not surprised at the amount of fans they have." However, the Instagram account isn't as popular as it deserves to be. "Many people tell me that the profile should have more followers." And I agree! So give her a much-needed follow!
#6
Hollywood Star, American Actress And Producer Mary Pickford
Randolph Croft 3 years ago
Mary Pickford was born in Canada and was a British/Canadian citizen and travelled under B/C passport. She lived part of the time in Canada, and most of the time in LA/Santa Monica. She never filed citizenship papers with the US. Which is part of the reason it's hard to pin her down.
She says that her photos don't cost as much as one would expect. When asked if these photos are costly, she replied "Absolutely not. I only share free stuff like miniature pictures, not the original ones." She wishes to publish a book one day, but she can't do that at the moment, because paying royalties for the original photos would cost a little too much. "It would be great to create a collection book with all these pictures, right? But I can’t afford all the royalties. So, my plan is just sharing what I found with other people on social media. This makes me happy."
#7
Clint Eastwood
"A real treat for our eyes, American actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood was portrayed at home, with his pussy, by photographer Larry Barbier, around 1960. Los Angeles, California. The United States."
Having in mind her collecting hobby, there's no chance that Paula doesn't have a cat. And she does. "I have an old kitten named Sofia. In January, she turns 18 years old, all of them she lived by my side. I am completely in love with her and am so grateful to keep her company for so many years."
#8
Elizabeth Montgomery
"American actress Elizabeth Montgomery playing the character Samantha with the kitten Ling-Ling in the television series Bewitched in 1965."
TheAnimalLady 3 years ago (edited)
🎼🎶We are Siamese if you please🎵🎶 *edit: 🙏Please click the replies🙏
#9
First Pet Of The White House, Socks The Cat
"This wide-eyed ragdoll was known as Socks the Cat and was former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary's first pet."
"My message is: love and respect the cats. And if possible, adopt. There are many abandoned animals waiting for years for the chance to have a family and a safe home. Knowing you saved a life is the best reward ever."
#10
Judy Garland
"Scary tales can be very frightening, but nothing that the company of a kitten doesn't solve. In the picture, American actress, singer, and dancer Judy Garland, in 1938."
TheAnimalLady 3 years ago
🐈⬛Black cats tend to live longer, healthier lives than others (according to researchers at the National Institute of Health) due to the gene that causes their fur to be black also protecting them from some diseases🐈⬛
#11
Pierre Jamet's Photo
#12
George Harrison
"Take a look at these portraits of George Harrison accompanied by his Persian cat named Korky. High dose of cuteness, right? Surrey, United Kingdom, 1965."
#13
James Dean
"Take this wonderful sequence of photos of American actor James Dean with his kitten Marcus, a gift given by actress Elizabeth Taylor at the end of the filming of the Giant, in which they acted together, 1955."
#14
The German Physician, Philosopher And Theologian Albert Schweitzer
Diana Johnson 3 years ago (edited)
"There are only two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music, and cats." - Albert Schweitzer
#15
Audrey Hepburn And Her Husband Mel Ferrer
"British actress Audrey Hepburn was shot with her husband, American actor and director Mel Ferrer, and their kitten, on their farm in Rome, Italy. 1955."
#16
Janis Joplin
#17
Grace Kelly
"All the beauty of the American actress Grace Kelly, who would later become Princess of Monaco, when posing with a pet, around 1948, for the lenses of photographer George Rinhart."
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
Cat: "She's rolling in inherited wealth and yet I have to drink out of a cheap glass bowl"
#18
Paul Mccartney
"None other than the star Paul McCartney sitting on the doorstep and enjoying the company of his dog Martha and two kittens that are in his lap. London, United Kingdom,1967."
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
Kittens being adorable in the hope that Paul will also write a song about them
#19
"A real leap of the cat immortalized by the lens of its human, Walter Chandoha, in 1951. The pussy, known as Loco, was rescued by the photographer from the freezing streets of New York and became his first feline model."
TheAnimalLady 3 years ago
🎼🐈🎶He flies through the air with the greatest of ease, That daring young cat jumps at all that he sees🎵🐈⬛🎶
#21
Canadian Actress And Singer Deanna Durbin
TheAnimalLady 3 years ago
TIL...@Edna Mae Durbin, worked with Judy Garland, was "Winnipeg's Golden Girl", has her prints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater and that the pictures Anne Frank put up in that attic of her are still there.
#22
British Actress Una Stubbs
#23
Writer Paul Gallico
#25
American Pilot John Bevins Moisant
"American pilot John Bevins Moisant had the company of his kitten, Mademoiselle Fifi, in his portraits and even on his flights."
#26
Polish Musician Wanda Landowska
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
Cat: "This is just showing off, one keyboard is enough for most people"
#27
British Model Celia Hammond
TheAnimalLady 3 years ago
She is a campaigner against fur as fashion and for the neutering of cats to control feral populations with her Celia Hammond Animal Trust and Donovan wrote "Celia of the Seals" in tribute to her...she's currently 80 years old.
#28
French Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson
#29
American Actress And Singer Ava Gardner
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago (edited)
When you'd rather be able to breathe than be cuddled by Ava Gardner
#31
British Actor Wilfrid Hyde-White
#32
British Novelist Elinor Glyn
#33
John And Jacqueline Kennedy
"Historical photo of then-Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy accompanied by his wife Jacqueline, daughter Caroline and the family cat.
This was the last weekend together before the Democratic candidate began the campaign for the presidency of the United States, circa 1960."
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
The cat later took refuge in the bushes whilst the family indulged in an impromptu game of touch football
#37
The Italian Poet Giuseppe Ungaretti
#41
American Actor Anthony Perkins
#42
Mary Austin, Ex-Girlfriend And One Of The Greatest Loves Of Freddie Mercury
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
I’ll bet the first and most important prerequisite of being Freddy’s friend or lover was an abiding love of cats. RIP Freddy.
#43
Argentine Writer Jorge Luis Borges
#44
US Senator Helen Ring Robinson With Her Pet Kitten
#45
American Author Helen Gurley Brown
#47
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
The three people not allowed to hold animals promised to behave themselves in future
#48
Alice Stacy
"Alice Stacy, a 91-year-old woman, hugs her cat named Mischief while Good Boy, her dog, sits next to her at the Columbia Point housing project in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. The United States. 1988."
#49
French Actor Jean-Louis Trintignant
#50
Art Dealer Ambroise Vollard
#53
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
CO: "Why aren't you pounding he** outta the enemY? FIre!"... Sgt: "No can do, sir, we can't disturb the cat."
#54
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
They said it wouldn't last, but five years later Connie and Tigger are still together and running a b&b in Devon
#55
Psychiatrist Nise Da Silveira
#56
Argentine Painter Leonor Fini
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
Cat: "Yes, I'm brushed every day, unlike certain people I could name"
#57
Joey Ramone
Julia Atkinson 3 years ago
"I don't care for this Blitzkrieg Bop dance, my ribs are killing me"
#58
American Writer And Screenwriter Patricia Highsmith
#59
British Blues Musician Long John Baldry
#60
Talian Actors Paolo Ferrari And Laura Tavanti
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What do you think ?
sofacushionfort 3 years ago
Cats make better pets for show biz and artistic types because they’re lower maintenance than dogs
sofacushionfort 3 years ago
Cats make better pets for show biz and artistic types because they’re lower maintenance than dogs
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