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Although seldom discussed in the writings of most art historians, the wiener dog (or dachshund, as at least twelve people still insist in
calling it) was intermittently a favorite subject of many artists, including several of the Great Masters (although this remains controversial).
In fact, throughout the history of mankind, the wiener dog has often been utilized as a symbol for many of our human traits: love, war,
greed, fear, hypochondria, and swollen glands, to name just a few of the more common ones.
By way of example, the fear of weiner dogs, lytlelongdogophobia, was most prevalent in Mesopotamia around 500 B.C. and the art from
the time reflected that culture's anxiety toward this little animal. Other societies, however, revered the canine, although we know little of
these people since their civilizations lasted, on average, three to five weeks.
Why the wiener dog has found it's way into our hearts and minds, and ultimately our culture, is difficult to say. We know only that,
somehow, this small, sausage-shaped dog with its shrill, high-pitched bark and sometimes neurotic behavior has touched something we
recognize deep inside ourselves.
The following section represents a small but certainly sufficient glimpse into this little-known and unfortunately neglected area of art
history. Note: We would like to thank the world's major collectors of wiener dog art (both of whom insisted on anonymity) for allowing
their paintings to be reprinted here.
calling it) was intermittently a favorite subject of many artists, including several of the Great Masters (although this remains controversial).
In fact, throughout the history of mankind, the wiener dog has often been utilized as a symbol for many of our human traits: love, war,
greed, fear, hypochondria, and swollen glands, to name just a few of the more common ones.
By way of example, the fear of weiner dogs, lytlelongdogophobia, was most prevalent in Mesopotamia around 500 B.C. and the art from
the time reflected that culture's anxiety toward this little animal. Other societies, however, revered the canine, although we know little of
these people since their civilizations lasted, on average, three to five weeks.
Why the wiener dog has found it's way into our hearts and minds, and ultimately our culture, is difficult to say. We know only that,
somehow, this small, sausage-shaped dog with its shrill, high-pitched bark and sometimes neurotic behavior has touched something we
recognize deep inside ourselves.
The following section represents a small but certainly sufficient glimpse into this little-known and unfortunately neglected area of art
history. Note: We would like to thank the world's major collectors of wiener dog art (both of whom insisted on anonymity) for allowing
their paintings to be reprinted here.
| Cave Art Location: Southern France c. 15,000 B.C. In 1909, paleontologist Arnold Zimmerman stumbled across this Paleolithic cave painting in southern France. It is undoubtedly the earlist known form of wiener dog art, estimated to be around 17,000 years old. The drawing is a clear depiction of Weenus giganticus, commonly known as the woolly wiener dog - a creature that according to Professor Zimmerman, "must have struck utter terror in the hearts of primitive mail carriers." Zimmerman's discovery ultimately brought him only grief, as other scientists began to question the legitimacy of this cave painting. (Special but unconclusive tests indicated the actual "paint" contained chemicals closely akin to a Magic Marker.) |
| Through the storm Artist: Boris Stromberg 64 x 64, oil on canvas c. 1600 The Wienerkings (also known as Dachsmen) were aggressive, seafaring warriors who pestered European coastal villages in the eighth and ninth centuries. They were never known to actually kill anyone, but, instead, preferred to stab annoyingly at their victim's ankles. Perhaps even more interesting was their battle cry, described in some ancient legends as a "sort of yipping sound." The Wienerkings vanished rather quickly, and historians are in dispute as to exactly why. The most prevalent theory, however, is that they may have repeatedly and inadvertently crossed paths with the Rottweilerites, another obscure people that just about everyone avoided. |
| The Bitches of Paradise Artist: Bernardo Bartolini 54 x 48, oil on canvas c. 1608 The Renaissance saw the emergence of the "chunkified" wiener dog in the style of the seventeenth-century Baroque art. Here, we see one such piece by Bernardo Bartolini (although he apparently preferred to sign his works with an informal "Bernie"). In 1612, Bernardo was commissioned to do a wiener dog fresco for King Giovanni D'Amento IV. Unfortunately, a revolt, led by a small clique of art critics, dethroned Giovanni - and Bernardo was arrested before he could begin his work. Giovanni was beheaded, and Bernardo was slapped around for a good five minutes and then released. |
| Wiener Dog with Head Turned Artist: Pablo Picasso? 26x24, oil on canvas 1954 This is one of the more controversial works in this section. In 1986, this painting went on the auction block and a Japanese collector paid $38 million for what he believed was one of Picasso's startling interpretations of the wiener dog. Shortly thereafter, however, several experts came forth to challenge the painting's authenticity. New estimates now place the work's value somewhere between $14 and $22, most of that amount being attributed to the nice frame. |
| Bottle, Apple, Book, and Bowl of Wiener Dogs Artist: Unknown 36 x 32, watercolor 1946 The wiener dog, especially in postwar Europe, was a frequent subject for still-life artists, almost to the point of cliche. Bowls of wiener dogs, baskets of wiener dogs, tubs of wiener dogs, dried wiener dogs, stuffed wiener dogs, and a myriad of other variations on this theme represented a quirky but strong artisitic trend for seven and a half years. And then it stopped. |
| Runaways Artist: Samuel L. Sullivan 28 x 22, oil on canvas 1896 In the latter part of the nineteenth century, weiner dogs were brought West in great herds by the backing of wealthy "wiener barons." These drives were occasionally enormous in scale, sometimes consisting of well over half a billion animals. There are two major routes (or "Wiener Trails") across the country, one starting in Boston and ending in San Francisco, the other starting in Chicago, circling that city several times (for greater momentum), dropping down to Dallas, back to Chicago (usually an error), down into New Mexico, and ending in what was then called Wienerville, Arizona (now an uninhabited area but nenowned for its rich topsoil). |
| The Persistence of Wiener Dogs Artist: Salador Dali? 24 x 20, oil on canvas c. 1938 We have no conclusive proof that this is indeed the work of Salvador Dali, but we're pretty sure. The signature on the painting, believed to be a pseudonym, is actually "Labrador Dali," but most experts recognize (reluctantly) the unique stamp of the famous Spanish surrealist. |
| The Whine Artist: Edward Munch? 18 x 28, oil on canvas 1891 Once again, we have here a work in which the creator's identity technically remains a mystery, but whose disturbing, provocative use of the wiener dog practically screams, "Edvard, you veirdo you!" This painting, along with a handful of other works by various artists, was stolen several years ago from one of New York's pretty good art museums. The brazen theft was a devatating blow to the art community. Interestingly enough, however, the very next day this particular painting was returned, found leaning against one of the museum's outside walls. According to the museum's curator at the time, the loss of all the works was an extreme offense, "but the return of 'The Whine' was absolutely the last straw." |
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or email sunsetdachshunds@yahoo.com
or email sunsetdachshunds@yahoo.com