Gatti Italiani

What illustrator doesn't dream of scoring a New Yorker cover?

One contemporary Italian artist, Franco Matticchio, has reached that enviable pinnacle. Unfortunately, it was not one of his feline images that peered back at me from my fave mag back in December of 1999 (even though the cover does see its share of cat illustrations).

But he's got plenty of cats up his sleeve. Elements of his work remind me of the Edwards--Gorey and Koren's--cartoons. It also reminds me that I've got to return to pen-and-ink at some point. Because I do love cross-hatching.

I would love to know the story behind this one: