The Fascinating Story Behind Cassius Coolidge's 'Dogs Playing Poker'

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge's 'Dogs Playing Poker' series features dogs playing poker and was initially created for cigar box labels. Coolidge began working on the 'Dogs Playing Poker' series in 1903 for the company Brown & Bigelow, which specialized in 'advertising memorabilia'.

The most popular painting from the series is 'A Friend in Need', which shows two bulldogs cheating during a poker game. Coolidge was known for inventing the photo booth with a face cutout, patented in 1874.

The 'Dogs Playing Poker' series became widely popular in the 1970s, with reproductions appearing on calendars, t-shirts, and coffee mugs. Coolidge's paintings were often considered kitsch and were not well-received by critics. Despite the critical reception, the paintings have sold for high prices at auctions, with some reaching over $500,000. Coolidge's daughter, Gertrude Marcella Coolidge, donated a print from the series to the town of Philadelphia, New York, in 1991.