Poker Prints

Without question, the most recognized gambling paintings ever created are the various renderings of dogs playing poker by C. M. Coolidge. In fact, surveys have shown these paintings to be among the most recognizable artwork of any type. Coolidge was born in upstate New York and began his career as a druggist and a painter of house numbers and street signs. He also founded a small newspaper called the Antwerp News. Coolidge was already known for his paintings of dogs playing cards before he was approached by the publishers Brown & Bigelow. The company hired him to create calendars and other advertising products. Coolidge is credited with producing 16 paintings of dogs-most of the playing cards-while in the employ of Brown and & Bigelow.

Of all Coolidge's dog paintings, "A Friend in Need" is his most famous. Replicas have adorned the walls of basements, bathrooms, and pool rooms across America for a century. The scene has a surprisingly modern look to it, which may account for its timelessness; only the cards, minus corner "indices," betray the period. Once again, cheating is a focal point. The game, without question, is five-card draw.