Dogs are the oldest known pets and humankind’s most faithful companions. Their presence as such is reflected in art, where our four-legged friends can be found in representations of every kind. The catalogue of this year’s summer show at the Berlin Kupferstichkabinett presents around 50 of the most charming images of dogs representing works from the medieval times until today. Amongst these are works by some of the greatest draughtsmen and printmakers—from Agostino Carracci, Albrecht Du¨rer, and Rembrandt to Adolph Menzel, Pablo Picasso, Otto Dix, and Dieter Roth. The drawings, prints, and watercolours drawn from the collection offer a vivid impression of a variety of modes of artistic representation. Breeds of every variety are brought to life on paper—rendered in an array of delicate brushstrokes, hard cross-hatching, and fleeting pencil lines—from the smooth-haired greyhound to the sheepdog and the stocky bulldog, from playful spaniels to terriers and poodles.
