Die Kunst, eine schwarze Katze

As a child, Anina knows no boundaries, but soon the impetuous and imaginative girl realizes that the world in her petty-bourgeois family home is narrow. She retreats into her own worlds and discovers her artistic talent early on, which will eventually lead her to the Academy in Paris. Here too, Anina experiences numerous disappointments that ultimately lead to her dropping out of art school. In particular, she is confused by a professor's statement that art knows something about her that is still hidden from her. This mysterious remark triggers a panic in her. Disappointed and sad, she returns to Switzerland, buries her dreams, and becomes a drawing teacher. Soon, she becomes pregnant by her childhood friend and marries, not least in the hope that art will now leave her alone. However, marriage and motherhood bring her neither happiness nor peace, and at some point, she realizes that she is deceiving herself about her life. Thus, she sets off for Paris once again.

The novel "The Art of Having a Black Cat" tells the story of a young woman who knows early on which path she must take, yet takes a long time to believe in herself. Key to this journey are her encounters with her teacher, whom she idolizes and from whom she ultimately experiences deep disappointment, as well as her meeting with Nathalie, an art student like herself. Anina learns to understand what friendship means and discovers that it is never too late to lead a self-determined life.