Cassius Marcellus Coolidge may not be one of the most famous painters in the world but the early 20th century artist was responsible for a series of works that have become icons in the world of poker.
His nine paintings, which made up the series Dogs Playing Poker, are the most widely known poker-related pictures and his anthropomorphized works have been reprinted and copied throughout the last century.
The works were originally commissioned for a cigar company and each show various dogs sat around a table playing poker – though what type of poker is unclear – with some of the canine’s smoking cigars.
The most famous picture, A Bold Bluff, together with another entitled Waterloo, was sold in 2005 for $590,400.
A Bold Bluff
The oil painting depicts five dogs sat around a card table with the central figure – a St Bernard – having just gone all-in while appearing to hold a weak hand. The rest of the dogs are staring at their rival apparently trying to see whether he is bluffing or has indeed ‘got the goods’.
Waterloo
A follow up to A Bold Bluff sees the table looking in disbelief as the St Bernard reveals his bluff – showing a pair of twos. The rest of the table seem shocked by events with one dog up on his feet, another staring away in disbelief while one is looking down at the floor. The winner appears to have a slight grin on his face.
A Friend in Need
This painting depicts a bit of skulduggery as one dog appearas to be passing an ace to his friend dog on his left hand side. The rest of the table are oblivious to the cheating going on apart from another hound, seated close by, who appears to be watching what is happening.
Coolidge’s achievement of producing these much sought after pieces of poker art is all the more remarkable considering he had no formal training as an artist, and had begun life as a sketcher before making a living producing Comic Foregrounds. These foregrounds are still popular to this day and are common at seaside resorts and tourist attractions. A person puts their head through a life-size foreground and a picture is taken.
