Purr-fectly Charming Black Cats

Whether you think black cats are spooky, good luck, or simply adorable companions, the many images featuring these striking felines in the collections are evidence that photographers and other artists have found them compelling since at least the 19^th century.

This photograph by Arthur Rothstein highlights the tonal contrast between the cat’s dark fur and the bright snow, with shadows providing additional texture.

Some black cats, such as the one in the image below, seem to hide in plain sight:

This 35mm film strip shows five and a half frames of a handsome black cat, lounging first on a chair, and then on a table:

The name and sign for this restaurant in Cape Cod pay tribute to the sleek black cat:

Visuals of black cats in our collections are not limited to photographs. The Black Cat magazine published short stories, including early work by Jack London and Henry Miller, and the magazine’s namesake often appeared on its covers.

Black cats were sometimes used in product labels, presumably because they were thought to appeal to the masses, as can be seen in this trademark for Black Cat Crochet Cotton brand thread:

The silhouette of the black cat on this poster was used to emphasize the point made by the text placed directly above it:

This photo of a black kitten provides a different take on an arched back — in this case, it’s purr-fectly adorable:

Learn More:

• Read additional Picture This blog posts featuring cats.
• See more black cat pictures from the Prints & Photographs Division collections.
• Explore additional rights-free cat imagery in this feline-themed Free to Use and Reuse set.