Bourgeois Frères Print (Cat Drinking Absinthe), 11" x 14"

This print is a reproduction of a 19th-century advertisement for the absinthe brand Bourgeois Frères (Bourgeois Brothers). The image is from a series of photos featuring a black cat drinking absinthe. When water is added to most absinthes, the anise (a key ingredient) causes the mixture to turn opalescent white (resembling milk) with a greenish-yellow tint. This process also releases essential oils in the absinthe, perfuming the air with the sweet smell of anise. This reaction is called an absinthe louche (pronounced loosh).