“Photography is a kind of magic,” says Jan van der Horn. His fairy-tale photographic work, created over several decades, comes together in this unique calendar featuring twelve cats. The images evoke other worlds and atmospheres while subtly referencing art history. They fit perfectly within Van der Horn’s magical, staged photography, distinguished by his use of color and light.
The calendar’s origins date back to the eighties, when Jan van der Horn began photographing his own cat, Fuji. Fuji often visited his studio and was accustomed to the sets, props and, above all, the flash. Van der Horn already knew that photographing cats may sound simple, but is one of the hardest things to do. “
It is much harder than photographing dogs, as American photographer William Wegman does with his costumed dogs. Dogs will do almost anything for a treat, but cats are a genuine photographic challenge—especially cats wearing hats,” says Jan van der Horn.
Working with Sabine van der Helm of animal-casting agency Catvertise, they succeeded one cat at a time. Sabine brought many of her cats to his studio in Amsterdam-Noord.
Photographs of Jan’s own cat have been part of Art Unlimited’s collection since 1984. Jos Smit, who runs the card and poster publisher, praises Van der Horn’s work. The Fuji photographs can still be found in the cat-themed display bins in his shop: “No one else does what Jan does with his photographs. You sense that he has put more into them. I suspect a great deal is hidden in them, and that is where the magic comes from. To me, he works in the tradition of Albrecht Dürer, who made Melencolia in 1514, a small engraving filled with hidden messages. The same magic is present in Jan van der Horn’s photographs. He has an eye for it, thinks everything through, and nothing is accidental. I find it magical.”
The ultimate cat calendar 2025 measures 60 × 42 cm and was still available from Art Unlimited, Roelof Hartstraat 34, 1071 VK Amsterdam, at the time of publication. Tel.: 06 42422476
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