The artwork titled “A Friend in Need,” created by the artist Cassius Marcellus Coolidge in 1903, belongs to the Kitsch art movement and falls within the genre of animal painting. This piece is part of the famous “Dogs Playing Poker” series that Coolidge produced in the same year.
The artwork depicts a group of seven dogs, anthropomorphized in a humorous and engaging manner, gathered around a poker table. Each dog is portrayed with a distinct personality, engaged intently in the game with a variety of expressions and postures. The scene is set in what appears to be a richly decorated room, with an ornate chandelier providing soft illumination. The dogs are positioned around a green felt table, on which poker chips and cards are scattered. One dog, visibly holding a card under the table, appears to be assisting another, thus giving credence to the artwork’s title “A Friend in Need.” The atmosphere of the piece, with its detailed setting and the expressive portrayal of the dogs, captures a nostalgic and whimsical essence, typical of Coolidge’s distinctive style.
