Throughout history dogs have provided humans with unconditional love, unwavering devotion, and divine companionship. Is it any wonder that they would appear in some of history’s greatest works of art?
Thanks to Pablo Picasso who began including his canine comrades in his paintings, popularity and prices of artwork featuring dogs increased significantly in the 1980s - 1990s. One of his most renowned paintings featured his Dachshund named ‘Lump’ who belonged to David Douglas Duncan.
The first artwork to depict canines were discovered in cave paintings. They symbolized protection and companionship. In Ancient Egypt dogs signified guardianship, intuition, and as a bridge between worlds - life and death. During the Renaissance and later in European portraiture, lapdogs served as an allegory for faithfulness, marital fidelity, or high social standing. Images of dogs were carved on tombstones - most notably during the Middle Ages - represented the deceased’s feudal loyalty.
Then paintings of hunting scenes of the 16th and 17th century, featured dogs which communicated social status and aristocracy. During this time, only nobility were allowed to hunt. Overseas in Japan, miniature sculptures called ‘netsuke’ served as artistic works and as toggles for cords used to attach small objects, boxes, or pouches to kimonos (traditionally have no pockets) were most popular during the Edo (1615 - 1868) Period.
SURPRISE! This means dogs have been featured in art for over 30,000 years! Take a gander below to see some of the greatest canine-inspired works of art.
