As the dog days of summer are rapidly ending and National Dog Day is upon us, let’s take a tour of some artists honoring man’s best friend through their work. People say that pets tend to take on their human’s personalities and vice versa, so—if we extrapolate that thought—what does your art collection say about you? The objects you live with must have some effect on its owners, so we can’t think of a more positive influence than images of trusty canine companions. We pulled together a few of our favorite doggy artworks, and we’ll let you decide which one fits you best.
Dick Sargent, Doggy Buffet, Saturday Evening Post Cover (1957). Courtesy of illustrated gallery.
Let’s first take a trip to the world of Norman Rockwell-type illustration. Were you spending your spring getting your body beach ready, and then your summer maintaining it? Yes? Well, lighten up, summer is ending so now is the time to indulge in some treats. Just be sure to contain your excitement more than this this guy: In Dick Sargent’s painting Doggy Buffet, originally created as a Saturday Evening Post cover, the artist expertly conveys the unfailing excitement every dog has at the thought of diving into your dinner. Down, boy.
Elliott Erwitt, Paris, France (1989). Courtesy of Joel Soroka Gallery.
For collectors of classic photography, we suggest Elliott Erwitt’s Paris, France, an irresistibly charming portrait of a hyper pup. If you have a dog with the same energy levels as the one pictured here, we hope he or she is staying cool and is just as happy. We doubt you and your dog have been running circles around the city during this particularly hot summer, but we know you both wanted to!
Iona Malka Rich, Untitled (dogs) (1998). Courtesy of Gracie Mansion Gallery.
Like most of us, dogs like to be pampered—but some owners take their love to the next level. How pampered is your pooch? Are you into buying her cute little parkas for the winter? If so, look no further: To match the sweater and boots your puppy sports, here is some inspiration. While we love the colorful crew in Ilona Malka Rich’s Untitled (dogs) sculptures, check in with your dog before visiting a colorist. We don’t condone dyeing your dog, but we can get behind a high ponytail.
Sarah Bahbah, Sex and Take Out. Courtesy of Art Unified.
Having a dog is a two-way street. If you’re sporty, your dog accompanies you on hikes. If you’re a couch potato, your pooch will likely follow suit—and we don’t know about you, but we’re feeling some real kinship with a dog whose ideal Saturday appears to be lounging in bed with some old takeout pizza. As seen in the above photograph from the Sex and Take Out series by Sarah Bahbah, this pup appreciates an afternoon nap just as much as its owner. Let’s file this one into the “aspirational” category.
Lourdes Grobet, Solar (with dog) (1980). Courtesy of Feldschuh Gallery.
Is your landlord a grinch that doesn’t allow furry friends as roommates, or do you not have space for a canine companion? We feel you. To fill the void, we can at least turn to art as a stand-in. Maybe we should take a cue from Lourdes Grobet’s Solar (with dog) and invest in a life-size replica of our favorite breed. In Grobet’s photograph, we can see that a dog statue can perfectly fit into an apartment life sans allergy and eviction risks. Maybe just don’t take the inspiration too literally.
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