I just knew I was going to love this book when, in her intro, the author asked readers to give their own dogs a head scratch for her. I was right. Trust me, this isn't your usual dry museum guide. The author's own love of dogs and whimsical sense of humor are both front and center and it was a fun romp through any number of museum level collections. The art ranged from the expected sculptures and paintings to, no lie, a dog "whistling jar". Nope, not telling. You'll just have to read to find out what that one is. Other doggie focused art ranged from a bead-work eye glasses case, which having worn glasses most of my life, I envied, to incense burners, an inkstand, and even a waterspout. Just too many different items to list. As an Alaska, I was definitely glad to see the inclusion of an Inuit team of sled dogs, a common source of transportation back in the ol' days.
What really shines through aside from the author's own love of dogs is the abundance of love and respect given our beloved furry friends by the artists themselves. You'll be astonished to see how far back in history just this collection of items goes, too. The author includes not only color photos, but brief descriptions of what you're seeing on the opposite page. The descriptions tend to be quick and to the point, not going off on tangents about artistic styles or eras, but simply on that bit of artwork. As noted, her sense of humor shines through, even using word play to great effect. Make sure to see if you catch the repetition of words beginning with "L" for one featuring a Labrador. Again, nope, not sharing. Don't want to spoil your fun of discovery. The conversational, humorous tone will definitely keep you interested, probably with a grin on your face. I mean, check out that cover shot for an example of the human yen to dress our dogs. Well, not mine. She's one of those who abhors that sort of thing, but some dogs have larger wardrobes than me, that's for sure. Dog love seems to have spanned the centuries.
Bottom line, whether you're simply a dog lover or art fan, you'll find something to love in this fun book. Maybe we can create our own version of the game of Hounds and Jackals? Thanks #ChronicleBooks for this early peek at dog related artwork. I sorta want a corgi version of that door knocker!
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