Canine Muses: How Modern Artists Immortalized Dogs from Picasso to Hockney
In contemporary art, dogs have transitioned from mere decorative elements to beings with unique personalities. This exhibition highlights significant works from the 20th and 21st centuries by artists such as Jeff Koons, Lucian Freud, and Francis Bacon, delving into the themes of movement and the bond between humans and animals. Amadeo de Souza Cardoso's "The Greyhounds" (1911) merges Art Nouveau with modernism. Franz Marc's "Dog Lying in the Snow" (circa 1911), housed at the Städel Museum, was acquired in 1919 and again in 1961 after being seized by the Nazis. Giacomo Balla's "Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash" (1912) illustrates motion, while Bacon's "Man With a Dog" (1953) reveals deep emotions. Additional notable pieces include Picasso's "Pour Lump" (1957) and Koons' "Balloon Dog" (1994-2000).
Key facts
- Amadeo de Souza Cardoso painted 'The Greyhounds' in 1911, influenced by Cubism, Futurism, and Art Nouveau.
- Franz Marc's 'Dog Lying in the Snow' (ca. 1911) was confiscated by the Nazis in 1937 and reacquired by the Städel Museum in 1961.
- Giacomo Balla's 'Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash' (1912) was inspired by chronophotography.
- Francis Bacon's dog paintings were influenced by Eadweard Muybridge's time-lapse photography.
- Pablo Picasso immortalized Lump, a dachshund owned by David Douglas Duncan, in 'Pour Lump' (1957).
- Keith Haring's dogs symbolized Anubis, the Egyptian god of the underworld.
- Lucian Freud painted his whippets Eli and Pluto, as seen in 'Double Portrait' (1985-86) and 'Eli' (2002).
- Jeff Koons' 'Puppy' (1992) in Bilbao is a West Highland terrier covered in flowers, replaced twice a year.
- David Hockney painted over 40 portraits of his dachshunds Stanley and Boodgie between 1994 and 1995.
- William Wegman's Weimaraners appeared on Sesame Street and in a MaxMara campaign in 2015.
Entities
Artists
- Amadeo de Souza Cardoso
- Franz Marc
- Giacomo Balla
- Francis Bacon
- Pablo Picasso
- Keith Haring
- Lucian Freud
- George Rodrigue
- Jeff Koons
- David Hockney
- William Wegman
- David Douglas Duncan
- Eadweard Muybridge
- Jacqueline Roque
Institutions
- Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
- Städel Museum
- Albright-Knox Art Gallery
- Tate
- Harry Ransom Centre
- Keith Haring Foundation
- Irish Museum of Modern Art
- Art Gallery New South Wales
- Tate Modern
- George Rodrigue Foundation
- Tel Aviv Museum of Art
- Guggenheim Bilbao
- The David Hockney Foundation
- MaxMara
- Sesame Street
Locations
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Frankfurt
- Germany
- Buffalo
- NY
- USA
- London
- UK
- Austin
- TX
- New York
- Dublin
- Ireland
- Sydney
- Australia
- New Orleans
- LA
- Tel Aviv
- Israel
- Bilbao
- Spain
- Leeds
- Cannes
- France