Cartoon of elegant woman
Fine Arts
Inventory number
2020.12.15.3.FA.GR.C1905.FRDescription
Humoristic drawing of an elegant woman walking quietly with her Bulldog. She wear a blue dress under a large green coat trimmed with brown fur. On her head, a huge caricatural hat representing a dog head with a monocle.The trend of molosses type dogs (Molossoid) appears at the end of the 19th century. It was around 1850, after dog-fightings with animals was banned in the United Kingdom in 1835, that the English bulldog was brought to France by British workers. Crossed with a Parisian ratter, the character of this breed becomes much less aggressive. His descendant, the French Bulldog, then met with some success as a companion dog. At the end of the 19th century, endless discussions between the French and the British began at the Kennel Club about whether the French cross was a breed or a bastard. Nevertheless the French maintained the idea that the gun of the breed belonged to them and that this type of dog existed long before. Finally, specific characteristics (small dog of 11 kg, ears straight rather than folded up and with a stockier body.) Were accepted. These dogs were nevertheless widely used for hunting unwanted rodents and as companion dogs, especially with butchers in the Villette and Les Halles districts in Paris, or even with prostitutes to whom their originality appealed to visitors. At that time, Toulouse-Lautrec loved these funny, cheeky little dogs with a remarkable little face. The popularity of this dog grew with some enthusiasts like Edward VII who can be seen in some photographs in the company of his French bulldog called Peter. The French Bulldog was also the darling of Mistinguett, Colette and Yves Saint Laurent. The breed was a resounding success until the United States where personalities like Josephine Baker fell in love with their small animal.
Materials
Water color on paperInk
Cardboard
Glass
Wood frame
Origin
circa 1905 FranceDimensions
Length : 27 cmHeight : 43 cm