Dogs [antikvár]

Introduction ^^OOKING AT PAINTINGS h a series of books about understanding what great artists see and think about when they paint. Dogs and people have formed close bonds since prehistoric times, when hunting and guard dogs were an important part of human survival. Throughout history, artists have painted this animal's loyalty and affection with a lively vision. An anonymous twelfth-century artist depicted a trio of hunting dogs as expressive silhouettes to show the animals' speed and keen instincts (page 9). The Korean artist Yi Om (on page 10-11) painted an adorable puppy as a religious sign to ward off thieves. This loving portrayal shows the feelings Korean people have for their religious rituals. The canine's unquestioning loyalty inspired Francisco de Goya's tragic picture of an abandoned dog (page 25). Painted in the 1820s, this scene, in which a sad little dog yearns after the shadow of its vanished master, suggests the end of the world. Contemporary artist Roy De Forest expressed the dog's instinctive ability to distinguish good and bad people (on page 41). Fiis dogs live in a happy world ruled by kindness and joy. The amusing qualities of dogs inspired the English eighteenth-century painter George Stubbs (page 21) to paint a poodle caught during a moment of dreadful uncertainty. With sympathy, Stubbs showed the humour in this dog's embarrassment. In 1986, Gilbert Sánchez Luján (page 43) depicted a character rooted in American Indian folklore as a sly dog that pokes fun at human vanity. Through his clear, bold style, Luján created a figure that would remind the viewer of the class clown in everybody's childhood. Great artists have transformed their love of dogs into majestic and fanciful images. By seeing how they have portrayed dogs, you can learn to observe your own pet with the eyes of a painter. Note: words in bold are explained in the glossary on pages 46-47.