Le Chat Noir

section of museum: Impressionism

name of artist: Théophile Steinlen

title of the work of art: Le Chat de Noir

date work of art was created: 1896

source(s) used for your historical fiction: https://www.geriwalton.com/le-chat-noir-or-the-black-cat/

https://www.frenchaffair.com.au/explore-france/le-chat-noir

writing prompt: A stray cat witnesses the le chat noir perform.He feels like he’s famous because he sees the poster.

historical fiction (8-10 sentences):

My life before I became famous was nothing more than the life of the everyday stray cat. Day to day I carried on being my scrawny, raggedy self until the day that my life was changed forever.

I was searching for scraps in my Paris alley one day when I almost jumped out of my skin. I saw myself on a real live poster. I was famous. How could it be? The door with the poster was open and, despite my growling stomach, I decided to investigate.

The man inside was holding the exact same poster of me and shaking another man’s hand. He spoke passionately and said to the other man, “ This is exactly what this club needs! Artist everywhere will come and transform from penniless beggars to the rarest talents in the world! And oh the audiences that will come, we will be great! We shall hang these posters all over the city advertising our grand tour.”

“Thank you monsieur,” said the other man, “but how will I be paid?”

“I should think that watching this theater transform as a result of your creation will be enough,” he replied.

Before the other man could speak, strange people started arriving one by one; musicians, actors, and artist alike. People lined up and started filling the seats below the stage. The people entertained with fascinating acts and when they were finished, the audience erupted in thunderous applause. The man with the poster saw me and gave me a small saucer of milk. He said to me, “Le chat de Noir, you are the emblem of my theater, of how something so outcasted can be the rarest beauty in the world.” The man walked away, and I ran off into the alley once more.