george carlson's beautiful black cat

found on pinterest. believed PD (US publication before 1923)

What an elegant image.  Mind you, this is on a children's periodical, so imagine young eyes and minds getting used to work of this quality.  That was easily done if you were a child lucky enough to subscribe to John Martin's Book, published from 1912 to 1933.  Illustrator George Carlson (1887-1962) was the primary contributor of that periodical's covers and illustrations.  This is his cover for October 1918, which leaves you to interpret the cat's expression based on sketched whiskers and luminous eyes.  See, too, how the cat is stepping out of the cover's frame.  It's dynamic, and it's clever - have you spotted the tiny gray mouse yet?