The Art World’s Love Affair with Dachshunds

Feature image: David Hockney and his dachshunds, photo by Richard Schmitt, 1995 via Architectural Digest

There’s something irresistibly charming about the dachshund. Their long bodies, short legs, and soulful expressions have won over dog lovers for generations. But beyond their quirky silhouette, dachshunds have quietly carved out a presence in the world of art. Dogs have long appeared in visual culture, from ancient Egyptian tombs and Roman mosaics to Renaissance portraits, often symbolizing loyalty, nobility, or devotion. 

The dachshund’s appeal to artists isn’t just sentimental, it’s also visual. Their long, low bodies and exaggerated proportions offer a naturally stylized form that lends itself to playful composition and bold design. In art, these physical characteristics can serve as both a formal exercise and a symbolic gesture. Some artists emphasize the dachshund's elongated form to explore rhythm and movement, while others use the dog’s stubborn but loyal temperament as a stand-in for themes of independence, tenacity, or devotion. Their compact size and strong presence also make them ideal for intimate portraits and personal narratives.

In 1957, photographer David Douglas Duncan brought his dachshund, Lump (German for “rascal”), to visit Pablo Picasso at his villa in the South of France. The bond between artist and animal was so immediate that Lump simply stayed, becoming a permanent fixture in Picasso’s life. Duncan would later remark, “Lump was Picasso’s dog. Picasso didn’t ask, Lump just stayed.” During this period, Picasso produced dozens of ceramic pieces and drawings, with Lump often present in the studio, sometimes perched on the table alongside the artist’s tools and materials. The dachshund’s presence subtly permeated Picasso’s work in direct sketches and photographs and in the playful, relaxed atmosphere of the art itself. 

You can see more photos of Picasso and Lump here. To learn more about their story, you can order the book Picasso & Lump: A Dachshund's Odyssey by David Douglas Duncan.

Pierre Bonnard had a beloved dachshund named Ubu, who quietly inhabited many of his paintings. Unlike a posed or symbolic subject, Ubu appears as a natural part of Bonnard’s domestic scenes, curled on a sofa, tucked into a corner, or trotting across the floor, rendered with the same warmth and attention as the human figures around him. Bonnard never spotlighted the dog, but allowed him to simply exist within the intimate flow of daily life, like a family member. This unassuming presence reflects Bonnard’s deep preoccupation with memory, perception, and mood over strict realism. His interiors hum with a quiet, emotional resonance, and Ubu became a subtle yet essential thread in the visual diary of his world.

Andy Warhol had a deep affection for his dachshunds, particularly his two beloved dogs, Archie and later Amos, who became his constant companions in the 1970s. These furry companions were part of Warhol’s personal identity during a time when he was becoming increasingly reclusive. Archie accompanied him almost everywhere, even to interviews and social events, often sitting quietly on his lap as Warhol deflected questions or avoided eye contact. Warhol once said, “I’m really afraid to be alone. I just want to be with my dogs,” revealing how emotionally significant they were to him. The Pop artist featured his dachshunds, particularly Archie, in several of his works, most notably in his Dogs series from 1976, where the dogs were portrayed with the same stylized attention he gave to celebrities.

David Hockney’s dachshunds, Stanley and Boodgie, were more than pets and became his muses, companions, and daily inspiration. In the mid-1990s, Hockney began a deeply personal series of paintings and drawings featuring the two dogs, resulting in the beloved Dog Days collection. These works, often small in scale and intimate in tone, depict the dachshunds sleeping, sitting, eating, or simply existing in quiet domestic scenes. Hockney painted them from life, often early in the morning, capturing their shapes with tender observation and a sense of playful affection. He described the process as a meditation, saying that painting his dogs gave him a sense of purpose and closeness during solitary periods. The simplicity of the subject matter, two dogs just being dogs, allowed Hockney to explore deeper themes of love, routine, and the comfort of companionship. Through these works, Stanley and Boodgie became gentle icons of devotion, reflecting the quieter, more personal side of an artist known for his bold color and innovation.

Beyond fine art, dachshunds have also frequently appeared in illustration, animation, and children’s literature. Their playful shape, expressive eyes, and comically long bodies make them perfect subjects for visual storytelling and humor. The classic picture book Pretzel by Margret and H.A. Rey, best known as the creators of Curious George, features a proud dachshund who happens to be the “longest dog in the world,” a delightful narrative that matches the breed’s quirky physique. In more recent years, Doug Salati’s Hot Dog, which won the Caldecott Medal, follows a dachshund seeking refuge from a sweltering New York City day, combining charming illustrations with emotional resonance. These books, along with countless cartoons, comics, and animations, have helped solidify the dachshund as a beloved visual motif for younger audiences.

Whether curled beneath a dining table in a Pierre Bonnard interior, perched on Andy Warhol’s lap at a press interview, or immortalized in the vivid brushstrokes of David Hockney, dachshunds have quietly left their pawprints on the art world. Their presence reveals a softer, more personal side of artists often shrouded in myth or abstraction. In loving and painting their dachshunds, these artists captured not only the physical form of a pet, but also the emotional comfort, routine, and devotion of companionship. It’s a reminder that even in the most avant-garde or monumental works of art, there’s room for the everyday, and sometimes, that includes a little dog with very short legs and a huge heart.

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