L.S. Lowry / Matchstick Men

Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887 - 1976) did several paintings nicknamed "Matchstick Men" paintings.  Some of the images are below.  He painted an industrial northern English landscape, bleak, dark and hopeless (to me).  But!  He incorporated dogs into his scenes of street life which makes them happy happy (to me).  Some examples below:



I like the 4 dogs visible around the main square - one of which is trying to jump up and play with another.  (Or attack.  But I say play).

One on a leash, one roaming free. 



At least 3 in the foreground, probably countless more back there with the masses.



At least four in that one.

There are many others in this same style, depicting the working classes at work and play with the industrial landscape as backdrop. 

I enjoy this style.  So many details to discover.  He did other styles of art as well, but, I like finding the "Matchstick Dogs" in his work so, I'll stick with those.  My tastes are simple.

Merry Christmas

Painting by Marcello Corti

George Goodwin Kilburne

So, I came across some of the artist's paintings and what I liked about them was that in many of them the dog looked like pretty consistently the same dog.  Was it his dog?  Did he just like the breed?  I'll show you some examples:











I like to think it was his dog and he just put him in as many paintings as possible.  These are just some I found.  There are lots of other pieces with the same dog.  But, there are also different dogs as well:








So many pictures.  I also love this one because I can almost hear the little dog yapping at the interloper:



I could post so many more.  But this is probably enough for one post!

George Goodwin Kilburne (1839-1924) was an English artist who did many illustrations of upper class British life.  Of course any artist who pays attention to the details of the dog is a favourite of mine and I have had a great time discovering his paintings.

I've loved many of his other paintings, some more with dogs and some without - no way to do this artist justice here but I wanted to keep a few highlights so I can remember to go back and learn more about him.

I would love to own one of his paintings one day.  Of course the only way that would happen would be if I come across one at a garage sale where the owner has no idea about art (you know, someone like me) so I can get it dirt cheap and run. (Would that be so wrong?)

The Gold Rush

Well, three posts in and I am breaking the rules.  This post has no art.  But it has dogs!  And history!  What caught my eye this time was photographs, specifically these pictures taken in the B.C. Gold Rush town of Barkerville (it's an historic site!  I want to visit there!)



So, this is an awesome image - I call it "the ghost dog one". 




Cattle drive time - this awesome dog is front and centre.



Love this one because of the fluffy white dog sitting happily up on the stoop of the Tin Shop.



Street scene in Barkerville - dog walking down the centre



Dog in the foreground, chilling on the boardwalk.

Now, the town was not called "Barkerville" after all the dogs (lol?) but rather after William Barker, who staked a huge claim and the town built up around it.  The town was founded in 1862, and is a National Historic Site of Canada today.  Another one to add to the bucket list.

First Nations Slice of Life

Interior of a Clallam Winter Lodge, Vancouver Island by Paul Kane (c.1851-1856).
Source: National Gallery of Canada in their Early Canadian Art collection

I originally came across this painting while taking a course in early Canadian History and immediately noticed not one, not two, but three dogs! Woohoo! Three times the score.  There is the one standing to the left, observing the main action; one sitting in the middle keeping his eye on what's happening over in the corner (maybe someone over there has some food?); and one off to the right who seems content just sitting with his owner.

The bond between humans and dogs is a special fascination of mine, and it makes me feel good to imagine the special interactions that existed between people and their dogs throughout all times and places.  Here, I love to see these dogs just hanging around as a welcome part of the community.  Just as it should be.

According to my crack research team (okay, Wikipedia) Paul Kane was a Canadian artist who undertook voyages from Toronto to the northwest between 1845 and 1848 to paint and document the lives of the Aboriginal peoples he encountered.  This is one of hundreds completed by him. And, my favourite.