white watches white

thanks wikimedia commons (PD-old-art-1923)

In one spot of light, a cat gazes with grave longing at two fluttering toys.  This is "White Cat and Brimstone Butterflies," an oil on panel by Arthur Heyer (German, 1872-1931) from the turn of the 20th century.
I had an odd thought.  Most of his dog and cat paintings are polished, conventionally pleasant animal genre pieces.  This is more roughly set (is that a curtain or a tree trunk back there?) and the look on this fellow's face reminds me of Heyer's self portrait.