Carl Kahler's 1891 painting *My Wife's Lovers*, a monumental portrait of 42 cats commissioned by San Francisco millionaire Kate Birdsall Johnson, has resurfaced in popularity thanks to social media and a record-breaking sale at Sotheby's in 2016, where it fetched $826,000—more than double its high estimate. The article details Kahler's background as a horse-racing painter from Austria, his three-year stay at Johnson's Buena Vista Castle sketching her feline menagerie, and the painting's debut at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Johnson, an eccentric art collector and philanthropist, owned hundreds of cats and named the work after her late husband's nickname for them.
The story matters because it highlights the enduring appeal of eccentric, niche art in the market and the power of social media to revive interest in historical works. The painting's auction success underscores how quirky, high-quality pieces can command extraordinary prices, while the narrative of a wealthy patron and her beloved cats offers a colorful glimpse into Gilded Age art patronage and collecting habits. It also demonstrates how provenance and backstory can significantly enhance an artwork's value and cultural resonance.