I Fell in Love With a Lovely Kitten (Louis Wain) Tile

This design features a painting by the English outsider artist Louis Wain (1860–1939), who became well known for his artwork featuring anthropomorphised cats and kittens. The painting depicts an adorable tabby kitten in a close-up frontal view. Its fur is fluffy, with rich brown and grey striped tones, culminating in a white, gently rounded chest. The kitten’s eyes are large, bright yellow, and wide open, suggesting surprise, shock or delight. Its mouth is slightly agape, forming an "O" shape, perhaps expressing wonder or joyful astonishment. The simplified blue background, framed in a fine red border, ensures that all attention is drawn to the kitten’s expressive face, emphasizing the immediacy of its charm. Below the kitten, in simple, almost naive handwriting, the caption reads: "I fell in love with a lovely Kitten & that Kitten was myself." This gives both charm and narrative to the work, reinforcing a sweet and playful self-identification with the kitten. This playful line of text adds a layer of comedic self-reflection, turning the picture from a simple animal study into a whimsical statement on identity and affection. By merging self-love with the act of adoring a kitten, Wain creates a gentle, almost therapeutic message, finding joy and recognition in the innocent qualities embodied by the cat. The kitten thus becomes a stand-in not only for feline beauty but also for the artist’s own spirit. The artwork captures the qualities that made Wain’s art so beloved in late-Victorian and Edwardian Britain: simplicity, humour, and a deep affection for cats.