d o g s p l a y i n g p o k e r
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C a s s i u s " C a s h " M a r c e l i u s C o o l i d g e
There is probably not a single soul around that hasn’t seen a least one of those paintings of a bunch of dogs around a table playing poker. They are truly wonderful fun. They were created by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge at the turn of the last century. In 1903, Coolidge contracted with the advertising firm of Brown & Bigelow of St. Paul, Minnesota, to create sixteen oil paintings featuring dogs engaging in various human (read male) activities such as playing pool, poker, drinking and smoking cigars. The paintings were originally used to sell cigars, which is why so many of the dogs are smoking. Coolidge is considered to be the originator of this genre and has had numerous imitators over the years.
Born in Antwerp, NY in 1844 Mr. Coolidge studied bookkeeping, math and commercial law at Eastman College but was never formally trained as an artist. Over the years he worked at a number of jobs, such as a banker, a druggist, newspaper cartoonist and a street cartoonist.
Besides “Dogs Playing Poker” Coolidge is credited for creating the “Comic Foreground”. These are large cartoons painted on boards with holes cut for people to stick there heads through to have their picture taken. These were very popular in Coolidge’s day and there many that still exist today.
While the “Dogs Playing Poker” series has never been seriously accepted in the “real” art world they remain some of the most popular paintings ever reproduced. The image has appeared on thousands of products.
Born in Antwerp, NY in 1844 Mr. Coolidge studied bookkeeping, math and commercial law at Eastman College but was never formally trained as an artist. Over the years he worked at a number of jobs, such as a banker, a druggist, newspaper cartoonist and a street cartoonist.
Besides “Dogs Playing Poker” Coolidge is credited for creating the “Comic Foreground”. These are large cartoons painted on boards with holes cut for people to stick there heads through to have their picture taken. These were very popular in Coolidge’s day and there many that still exist today.
While the “Dogs Playing Poker” series has never been seriously accepted in the “real” art world they remain some of the most popular paintings ever reproduced. The image has appeared on thousands of products.