Dogs in Conversation

Throughout art history, mainly in Western art, there is an overwhelming presence of dogs as status symbols and pets in paintings. Dog portraits became increasingly popular in the 18th century, and they often spurred the creativity of visual artists.

Dogs have long attracted the eye of artists. They often give a clue to the artist’s personality or lifestyle. Amongst the famous artists and the pets who inspired their success were Andy Warhol with a dachshund named Archie, who came with him to art openings and his studio. Edvard Munch’s terriers accompanied him to his studio - he even took them to the movies, leaving if one barked. Frida Kahlo featured her animals in her self-portraits, Mexican hairless dogs depicted in “The Love Embrace of the Universe”. Her other creatures included spider monkeys, a fawn named Granizo and a parrot named Bonito. Picasso, an avid animal lover, had various dogs, the most famous of which was called Lump, a dachshund who he took everywhere. Spanish Surrealist Dali had two ocelots as pets.

Cultural depictions of dogs in art has become more elaborate as individual breeds evolved and the relationships between human and canine developed. Dogs were depicted to symbolize guidance, protection, loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness, alertness, and love.

The tradition of using dogs and other pets as a source of inspiration continues. We hope that you will enjoy this small selection of works in our virtual exhibition, most can be seen in the gallery and on our website.