The sight of seeing dogs gathered around a table playing poker is definitely not an ordinary sight. However, Cassius Marcellus Coolidge perfectly depicted several scenes of dogs playing poker, gathered around a poker table in a human-like fashion.
Cassius Marcellus Coolidge is very likely the most famous American artist you never heard of. His artwork Dogs Playing Poker left a long-lasting print in American art history, which is the theme of this article.
Who Was Coolidge?
Born on the 18th of September in 1844 in Antwerp and spent his childhood in Philadelphia. He came from a family known as the Quaker farmer, reportedly working the odd job before he became an artist.
One of his first jobs connected to art was working as an illustrator and as a cartoonist in a local newspaper, which set him up with a foundation to pursue art later in his life. His nickname was Cash, and people first made fun of him because of his art.
Dogs Playing Poker
This is the collective name for a total of 18 paintings depicting a dogs poker club or dog artwork in general. One of the most famous paintings by Cash Coolidge is titled “A Friend In Need” which is now worth millions of dollars.
“A Friend In Need” depicts a group of dogs seated at a table playing poker. From the perspective of the viewer, we can see one dog, a bulldog passing a card to the dog seated next to it, under the table where no one can see.
Andy Thomas and The Republican Club
The Republican Club is a painting created by Andy Thomas, an American painter based in Missouri. He has a real fondness for history and historical figures, so most of his paintings are based around on historical places or figures.
In the painting, there’s a slimmer version of former president Trump, dressed in a shirt and his signature red tie. On the sides are presidents Eisenhower and Nixon sitting across Abraham Lincoln as well as both Bushes, Ronald Reagan Teddy Roosevelt and Gerald Ford.
There’s also a looming female figure in the background, which is a subtle hint at feminism as per the artist. Andy Thomas is also an author of a similarly titled image called “The Democratic Club” in which several Democratic Presidents are seated.
Many people have made a mockery of the author’s vision and called the painting tacky and inspired by the 1894 painting by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge “Dogs Playing Poker”. Replacing Coolidge’s dogs with Republican presidents reminds of us the interconnection between the two paintings, and we can see the inspiration.
However, according to Andy Thomas former president, Trump was very satisfied with the painting. Reportedly he even made the effort to contact Andy and give his compliments on the painting.
The Origins Of Poker-Crazed Dogs
One of the first paintings, and probably the first was painted in 1894. The painted pictures were also used by some tobacco companies like Brown and Bigelow which used the artwork for calendars and other promotional materials for their cigar campaigns.
However, not all dogs were painted around a table playing poker. Only 9 of the series of 18 paintings depicted dogs deep into a poker game, whereas the other paintings painted the dogs in everyday situations such as fixing a car, travelling, pleading in a court case etc.
The Meaning Behind Dogs Playing Poker?
Many analyses were done over the years to uncover what Coolidge’s paintings actually mean. The most likely conclusion that several researchers came to was that the paintings were likely a satire on how the upper class lived their lives.
Coolidge during his time was also part of the Masonic Lodge in Antwerp and most of his paintings were suggested to point to Masonry also. Furthermore, the paintings are said to contain hidden meanings that only members of the Masonic Lodge could understand.
One picture, “Riding the Goat” points to a ritual performed by the Masons which was done during the initiation of new members. However, all of these, and none could be true.
Art Critics on Coolidge
The art by Cash Coolidge was very often connected to Kitsch by art critics and was often connected to the art of lower value. Kitsch was an art direction that popped up during the 1800s in Munich Germany.
Just like other paintings or art items of the time, the art in which dogs are depicted as able poker players is said to be created to appeal to the masses rather than to have any artisanal value.
However, no matter what some fans of art have said about the artwork by Cash Coolidge it’s crystal clear that these paintings are a part of modern American culture. These depictions have also found their way into many other items and promotional campaigns.
Dogs With Real Artisanal Value
Despite the outspeaking of the critics many people love these paintings and consider them to be an irreplaceable part of modern American culture. After all the dogs depict daily situations in which humans often find themselves.
Another argument that goes in hand is the sheer fact that many of these paintings have been sold for millions of dollars, and the ones that haven’t been sold, are now worth at least that much.