Dachshunds in Pop Culture: Andy Warhol
Famous Dachshund Owner? Pop Culture? Our Hero! Andrew Warhola (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987), better known as Andy Warhol, was an American artist who was a central figure in the movement known as Pop art. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as a painter, an avant-garde filmmaker, a record producer, an author, and a public figure known for his presence in wildly diverse social circles that included bohemian street people, distinguished intellectuals, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy aristocrats. A controversial figure during his lifetime (his work was often derided by critics as a hoax or "put-on"), Warhol has been the subject of numerous retrospective exhibitions, books and documentary films since his death in 1987. He is generally acknowledged as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century.
His dachshunds were 'Amos' and 'Archie.' The above photo of Warhol and Archie was taken in 1973 by photographer Jack Mitchell.
Dachshund (Archie), 1976, synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas
Excerpt from artnet: In the early 1970’s the era of Andy’s cats ends and Andy’s dogs begins. In 1973 Jed Johnson, Andy’s boyfriend, convinced him they should get a dog. Through a friend’s recommendation, Jed decided on a dark brown, shorthaired dachshund puppy. Jed and Andy named him Archie. It was definitely the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Andy and Jed adored Archie. Andy took Archie to his studio, to art openings, and Ballato’s Restaurant on Houston Street. The wife of the owner, John Ballato, had a toy poodle named Muffy and Andy was encouraged to bring Archie so he could be Muffy’s companion. I do not remember the dogs ever playing together because Archie was always on Andy’s lap, eating bits of food that he was handed. Archie was carefully hidden under Andy’s napkin just case a restaurant health inspector would happen to come by. John’s restaurant was very exclusive and he only allowed people he knew and liked to sit at one of his tables for lunch or dinner. It was a hangout for the emerging art world, those who were settling into New York City’s SoHo area in the early 1970’s. Andy was so attached to Archie that he would not travel to London because he could not bare leaving Archie at home or in quarantine for six months. Archie became Andy’s alter ego. Andy would hold Archie when being photographed by the press and would deflect questions to him that he did not want to answer. The artist Jamie Wyeth did a portrait of Andy with Archie being held under Andy’s arm looking like the sophisticated and regal dog that he was.
Two or three years after getting Archie, Andy and Jed got a second dachshund, this time a light brown, shorthaired puppy they named Amos. Unlike Archie who enjoyed the company of people and was very social, Amos was more like a regular dog. Archie and Amos kept each other entertained in Andy’s townhouse barking and chasing each other. Archie’s days of going out on the town with Andy ended.
During his last years, Warhol lived alone in a five-storey building with his two miniature dachshunds, surrounded by antiques, art and about 175 cookie jars.
Portrait of Maurice, 1976, commissioned portrait for Gabrielle Keiller, synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas. To create this screenprinted image, he worked from Polaroids of Maurice, taken at Keiller's London home.
Andy Warhol and Archie sit for a press photo in New York.
Andy Warhol, Archie, and friends at Brooks Brothers, New York, 1975
Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, Archie
Traveling Wiener Dog in a Mercedes Benz
This lens is about a little brown dachshund that came to live with the famous artist Pablo Picasso.
Lump (German for 'rascal' and pronounced loomp) was born in Stuttgart and lived in Rome for a year. He shared an apartment with a very large,very jealous afghan hound. One day, he decided he just had enough.
Adios!
Lump traveled with the well known photographer David Douglas Duncan. David was often visiting Picasso and had become fast friends with the painter, and his companion Jacqueline. One spring day, David pulled up the gravel walk of La Californie, Picasso's villa. Beside him, was Lump,riding shotgun in the Mercedes Benz Gullwing.
As David and Picasso chatted, Lump explored the grounds, learning the hard way, what was a sculpture, and what was alive.
Then it was time to go home. But Lump, in his stubborn wiener dog fashion, decided that he would make Picasso's home, his home...and that was that.
So Special
Yan a large boxer was already in residence at La Californie.He didn't seem to mind this little walking wiener coming to live there. Many dogs,in fact had come and gone, and still were on the the grounds of the villa. But only this little dachshund found a place in Picasso's heart to be held, played with and painted.
Learning the World of Picasso
Lump, like all wiener dogs, had a very curious streak. Of course the fantastic world of Picasso was a constantly changing landscape of curiosities.
Esmerelda the resident goat was already immortalized in bronze on the grounds. Lump found out very quickly...not all goats were so immobile.
He also got into the artwork,literally. When he appeared on the terrace with oil paint from head to bum, a rather undignified cleaning ensued. No wiener dog, regardless of how famous, hates to be put through such embarrassment.
Lump spent the rest of the day sulking, in Jacqueline's arms.
Lump learned to read Picasso, knowing when it was time to play, and when to back away. If a few thunks with his favourite stone on the studio floor failed to get the artist's attention, then it was time to find amusement elsewhere. While Lump also had the persistence of all wiener dogs, he knew when to give artistic genius room to take flight.
Immortalized
In Picasso's version of Velazquez's "Las Meninas", the large mastiff was replaced by Lump. However, I couldn't figure out why the painter never painted Lump's ears downward. They stick up and make him look like a long fox.
He was also painted on a lunch plate...every conceivable collector of Picasso would love to get their hands on that!
Picasso also did a sketch depicting two wiener dogs...but I'm unsure whether he did that sketch before Lump arrived or after.This was a print Ikea sold in their stores over five years ago(see below).
Picasso's version of "Las Meninas". Lump is in the front,on the right side.
The Coveted Lunch Plate
Picasso Print from Ikea.
Lump actually came to live with David again when he wasn't able to roam La Californie. The vet Picasso took him to was incompetent, so David took matters into his own hands.
Even though Lump was now back in Rome, Picasso still asked about the dog that shared his life for so many years.
In 1973 both Picasso and Lump passed away, leaving a little known legacy.But when it is told, it never fails to warm the hearts of those who hear about it.
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