"Kitty and I" by John Lawson

"Kitty and I" by John Lawson

1902

Chromolithograph

This captivating color print, featuring two distinct narrative scenes titled "Kitty and I" and "All Gone!", is an antique book plate illustration by celebrated Victorian artist John Lawson from the anthology Mother Goose Jingles, published in 1902. The upper left composition, bearing Lawson's distinct "JL" monogram, captures a young, blonde girl standing near a straw broom while tenderly cradling a fluffy black-and-white longhaired cat. Diagonally opposite on the lower right, a separate vignette details a raggedly dressed young boy sitting on a rustic wooden stool, lifting an empty blue bowl with a wooden spoon as a small black-and-white terrier dog leaps up expectantly beside him. Accompanying both heartwarming vignettes are playful children's verses printed in a clean, rhythmic typeface, balancing a composition unified by its soft, layered watercolor texturing and detailed domestic interiors.

The piece is situated within the turn-of-the-century era of commercial children's publishing, a period heavily defined by a booming market for instructional, highly sentimental family literature. Produced for the 1902 volume Mother Goose Jingles, this print highlights the period's commitment to pairing moralistic or whimsical poetry with high-quality illustrations to cultivate empathy and visual literacy in young readers. The work stands out as a significant piece of historical ephemera because it captures the idealized domesticity and early animal welfare themes that gained immense popularity in late-Victorian and Edwardian household annuals. Original vintage printings from this collection remain highly sought after by curators of classic Americana, antique children's poetry illustration, and early 20th-century graphic arts.

Dimensions: H 12” x 10” W

Condition: Toned with age