Artwork Description
C.M. Coolidge, also known as Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, was an American artist who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His famous series, “Dogs Playing Poker,” consists of oil paintings that depict dogs playing a game of poker in a humorous and anthropomorphic manner.
The dogs are portrayed as human players, dressed in human clothing and exhibiting the same seriousness and focus as their human counterparts. Coolidge chose dogs because they were a popular subject in American culture then, and he may have been looking for a way to make his work more accessible to a broader audience.
Art Category
This series of paintings fall under the category of optical realism because paintings depict dogs in a realistic and detailed manner. It is considered a typical work for Coolidge, as it reflects his artistic style of realism since Coolidge was known for his realistic approach to painting.
Art Movement
The Realist movement, which emerged in France in the mid-19th century, was heavily influenced by the Industrial Revolution and the growing importance placed on individual experience. The movement was characterized by the representation of ordinary life in an unidealized and straightforward manner, a key characteristic of realism. It is a commentary on the contemporary social and cultural context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Cultural and Historical Influences
The series portrays dogs as human players in a social setting, which can be seen as a commentary on the human experience of competition and social interaction. The influence of Realist painters such as Gustave Courbet and Honoré Daumier can be seen in Coolidge’s work since they are consistent with the approach of Realist painters.
Art Style and Materiality
Coolidge preferred optical realism to abstraction or synthesis because of his interest in accurately depicting subject matter in a humorous and lighthearted manner. He used oil paint on canvas to create a smooth and seamless surface, allowing him to work on a large scale.
The paintings’ aesthetic choice of dogs playing soccer of optical realism emphasizes the anthropomorphic portrayal of the dogs and the game’s humorous atmosphere, which adds a unique aspect to the paintings, making them more lighthearted and accessible to a broader audience. If the paintings were created in an abstract or synthesized style, this aspect of humor and anthropomorphism would be lost. An abstract or synthesized style would not accurately depict the dogs’ appearance or behavior and, therefore, would not lend itself to the humorous and anthropomorphic portrayal.