In "Sam Sitting" Warhol has portrayed one of his cats, whose elegant figure is captured with distinctive, clearly executed lines. The cat’s body is defined by the contour lines, which form a closed shape and emphasise the cat's upright, proud posture. The large, open eyes and strong gaze of the animal underscore this impression. Warhol has captured the cat’s head with skillfully placed strokes that bring out the essential characteristics of its physiognomy.
The drawing is from the early work of the artist, who was a successful commercial designer and illustrator in those years and received several awards. “Sam Sitting” not only impressively demonstrates his drawing talent, but also the love for his subject. Warhol was a great cat lover and at lived – together with his mother and numerous Persian cats – on Lexington Avenue in New York at that time. The male cats were all named Sam, the female ones Hester. Warhol repeatedly portrayed them in his works, including hand-coloured lithographs and the book "25 Cats Name(d) Sam and one Blue Pussy".
