The Artist Who Loved Cats

Musee de Montmartre in Paris to host a new Steinlen exhibit
October 12 through February 2024

The 100th anniversary of Monsieur Steinlen's death (December 13, 1923) is approaching, and several special events are happening to commemorate him and his MANY artistic achievements! Musee de Montmartre in Paris will be hosting a new Steinlen exhibit October 12 through February 2024. Next, the exhibit will travel to Norway, where Steinlen spent time in 1901 living at the house of Nobel laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. Another exhibit will be opening in Lausanne in 2024 (Steinlen was born in Switzerland).

Last year, we were contacted by "Association les amis de Steinlen" (The Association of Friends of Steinlen) in hopes that we would find a way to publish a French edition of the book - a very flattering request! We began trying to contact French publishers, and exhibited the book at the Bologna Book Rights Fair in March, to no avail. And in April, Susan joined the wonderful organization American Friends of Musee de Montmartre (we highly recommend them - they have all sorts of great perks, like invitations to exhibit openings!!) where she learned about all the wonderful upcoming events and new Steinlen exhibit. We also had the opportunity to meet the museum curator via Zoom. With a little work and a lot of magic, the French edition is HAPPENING! The curator of Musee de Montmartre introduced us to her fine arts catalog publisher - In Fine Editions d'Art - and they have decided to publish our book in French. We are thrilled!!!

We’ve been invited to present the book at the museum the day before the exhibit opens. If you are in Paris on October 11th, you'll find Susan at Musee de Montmartre at 3 pm reading The Artist Who Loved Cats: The Inspiring Tale of Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen. The event will be kid-friendly, of course, and attendees might even be creating some cat art of their own!

This is a dream come true! Many of you know the story of how Susan found her magical little bronze Steinlen cat in a shop in Montmartre in 2014 - and just one day before that, she was at this amazing exhibit! Her head and heart were whirling with inspiration and excitement...which eventually became this project! It is truly fantastique to be returning to present our book there in Steinlen's honor (and of course, in honor of cats everywhere). We will post pictures from the event and let you know when the new French edition is available!

A special French Edition will be available at the Musee de Montmartre Exhibition

You never know where inspiration will find you . . . and where it will take you!

We are always on the prowl for new ideas...but sometimes, an idea pounces on us when we are least expecting it!

Susan: In the summer of 2014, I was in Paris on a family holiday, strolling down the streets of Montmartre. I peered into the window of a shop and spotted a little bronze sculpture of a cat. Cats were on my mind already: everywhere I turned, Chat Noir art was emblazoned on t-shirts, posters, coasters, mugs, and anything that could be imprinted and sold as a souvenir. I was, in fact, carrying a Chat Noir umbrella I had purchased the day before!

The friendly shopkeeper did not speak much English, and I spoke "un peu de Francais"... but when he showed me the artist's signature on the cat and pointed to my umbrella, I made the connection: I was holding an antique bronze by the artist, Steinlen. Curiosity isn't just for cats, so I did a little research -- and the beginnings of this rhyming biography began to pop into my head. Naturalmente, I showed the rough verses (and my new bronze cat, who I named Noir) to my partner-in-rhyme, illustrator Courtenay Fletcher.

Courtenay: A picture book about cats? and art? and Paris? Oui! Oui! I can-can do this!

The little cat sculpture that Susan found in the Paris antique shop.

Watch The Fun Book Trailer We Made!

A Charming Excerpt From The Book

It's Our Motto, Too!

Meet Our Cast Of Characters...(young) Steinlen, Noir,
M. Arvieux and Antoinette

buy now

Musee de Montmartre in Paris to host a new Steinlen exhibit October 12 through February 2024