The Origin and Mysterious Story Behind the Famous “Dogs Playing Poker” Paintings

The “Dogs Playing Poker” series isn’t just a single painting – it’s actually a collection of 16 paintings created by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge in 1903. These paintings were commissioned by Brown & Bigelow, a company that used them to promote cigars. At that time, they were not seen as serious art but rather as fun advertisements.

One of the famous paintings from Coolidge’s 16-piece Dogs Playing Poker series

One of the first and most well-known paintings in the collection is “Poker Game,” created in 1894. Another fan favorite, “A Friend in Need,” has become a symbol of the entire series. These paintings show dogs behaving like humans, playing cards, drinking, and smoking, often adding humor and hidden meanings about human behavior. Now, let’s take a look at the 16 paintings that make up this amusing series.