◇ Windowsill Companion

This 1930s illustration presents a quiet, intimate moment of childhood affection. The composition centers on a young girl cradling a cat against her chest, set against the structured backdrop of a gridded window and a rhythmic row of potted plants. Executed with a delicate balance of India ink and soft blue washes, the piece evokes a sense of stillness and domestic warmth common in the interwar period of Dutch illustration.

Why We Picked It
The artwork is distinguished by its narrative simplicity and clean, intentional line work. De Feijter uses a combination of pen and brush to create contrasting textures—the soft, organic form of the cat and the girl’s patterned dress against the rigid, architectural lines of the window pane. The restrained use of blue wash adds a subtle atmospheric depth, guiding the viewer’s eye to the central embrace without overwhelming the fine pencil underdrawings that reveal the artist’s process.

Notable Context
Created between 1928 and 1941, this work belongs to the tradition of the Dutch "Nieuwe Zakelijkheid" (New Objectivity) as applied to illustration, where clarity and everyday subjects were prioritized over romanticized abstraction. During this era, the Netherlands saw a flourishing of high-quality book design and children’s literature, often reflecting a societal desire for order and domestic peace amidst the rising political tensions in Europe. De Feijter, a prolific illustrator and fashion journalist, captured these cultural values through motifs of the home and the garden, which served as symbols of safety and continuity during a period of rapid modernization and approaching conflict.

About the Artist
Miep de Feijter was a versatile Dutch artist known for her contributions as a draftsman, painter, and fashion journalist. Her style is characterized by its illustrative precision and an ability to translate complex emotional bonds into accessible, graphic forms. As an artist who frequently worked on book designs, her influence helped
shape the visual language of Dutch print culture in the early 20th century. Her work remains a significant reference point for the study of interwar figurative drawing and the evolution of European commercial art.