The Birthday Cake — Harry Whittier Frees, 1914

Created by Harry Whittier Frees in 1914, The Birthday Cake is a wonderfully playful studio photograph showing two dressed kittens seated at a miniature table with a candle-topped birthday cake between them. One kitten wears a checked dress while the other appears in a lighter patterned garment, transforming a familiar birthday celebration into an eccentric piece of early twentieth-century photographic humor.

The nearly black studio background emphasizes the kittens, pale cake, miniature furniture, and carefully arranged tablecloth. Frees's formal composition gives the scene the appearance of a traditional celebration portrait while its feline participants create an unmistakably whimsical effect. Preserved by the Library of Congress, the photograph is a charming example of animals staged in human situations during the 1910s.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Harry Whittier Frees
• Title: The Birthday Cake
• Original title: The birthday cake
• Series: LOT 11513
• Date: June 24, 1914
• Period: 1910s
• Place of Origin: United States
• Medium: Photographic print

Framed Print Details

• Fine art printing: Professional 12-color fine art printing technology produces vivid, accurate colors with strong tonal depth and significantly greater nuance than standard 4-color inkjet printing.
• Paper: Smooth premium matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper weight: 200 gsm (80 lb).
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils).
• Frame material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame dimensions: Approximately 20 mm (0.79 in) deep and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the print while keeping the framed artwork lightweight.
• Ready to hang: A hanging kit is included, allowing the framed print to be mounted directly on the wall.
• Available sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different spaces.
• Materials: Printed using FSC-certified paper and wood where available.
• Production: Each framed print is produced to order through a trusted international network of professional print studios.
• Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
• Made to order: There is no minimum order quantity. Each piece is printed and assembled on demand, reducing unnecessary stock and waste.

Exact frame dimensions, component availability, and production specifications may vary slightly depending on the selected size and destination.