For some artists, their culture and heritage define the style and features of their work, serving as both inspiration and motivation for creating world-class pieces.
One such artist was George Rodrigue, a Louisiana-born Cajun who sought to share his slice of paradise with the world.
Although Rodrigue isn’t the only notable Louisiana creative, his work has left a legacy that shows just how colorful and multifaceted the bayou can be.
Biography
Early Life and Education
George Rodrigue was born on March 13th, 1944, in New Iberia, Louisiana. His parents were George Sr. and Marie Courrege.
Rodrigue was the only child in this single-income household. His father was a bricklayer, and his mother took care of him and the house.
During high school, Rodrigue attended St. Peter’s College (now known as Catholic High School), which was situated on the banks of the bayou Teche.
It’s likely that having lived so close to the bayou is partly why Rodrigue incorporated so many natural elements into his early works.
After graduating high school, Rodrigue first went to the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), then moved to California to study at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
However, Rodrigue would not be away from home for too long, returning to Louisiana in the 1960s to pursue art full-time.
With a formal art education under his belt, Rodrigue began painting portraits and landscapes, capturing the mystical and somewhat foreboding image of the bayou.
An example of this early work includes the Aioli Dinner, which sees a large extended family sitting for an outdoor meal in the swampy terrain, with a large house in the background.
Another similar painting was The Class, in which Rodrigue painted a photo of his mother’s old class set against the backdrop of a moss-clad oak tree – a common sight in Louisiana.
George Rodrigue Foundation for the Arts
By 2009, Rodrigue had already been catapulted to fame thanks to his Blue Dog Series (more on that later), so he parlayed his notoriety into an art foundation.
The George Rodrigue Foundation for the Arts helps finance art programs in various Louisiana schools, as well as supply these programs with different art materials so students can incorporate creativity into everyday learning.
The foundation instructs teachers on how to integrate art into other curricula so students can see how art can blend into other subjects.
The foundation also funds an annual Scholarship Art Contest to help participants realize their creative dreams, just like Rodrigue did.
Blue Dog Series Paintings
Although the first half of Rodrigue’s career focused on Louisiana landscapes and cultural traditions, his career took a major turn after he started his Blue Dog Series.
The series took inspiration from an old Cajun legend (adapted from French and Canadian myths) that tells of the Loup-Garou, a man-dog hybrid that stalked the bayous and forests of the region.
Although the Loup-Garou is meant to be an intimidating and frightful creature, Rodrigue’s blue dog is more passive, with a slight sense of whimsy.
The first painting he did was part of a collection of artworks inspired by ghost stories. However, the image of the blue dog with yellow eyes was so captivating and evocative that it became a defining part of his later career.
In fact, when Rodrigue sold a book of the Blue Dog series, it sold over 200,000 copies, propelling Rodrigue to international fame.
After the success of the image, Rodrigue painted his famous muse in a wide array of scenes and backdrops, making the dog a cornerstone of most of his later pieces.
The artist even incorporated the dog into other famous works. For example, he did a campaign for Absolut Vodka, and he used the dog for portraits of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
There are many pieces within the series, so fans of the blue dog can see it in virtually any setting they wish, including as a Mardi Gras attendee, sitting in a sea of eyes, or cowering under a blanket to hide from the moon.
As far as Rodrigue’s thoughts on the Blue Dog, he remarked:
“The yellow eyes are really the soul of the dog. He has this piercing stare. People say the dog keeps talking to them with the eyes, always saying something different. People who have seen a Blue Dog painting always remember it. They are really about life, about mankind searching for answers. The dog never changes position. He just stares at you.”
Death
In 2012, Rodrigue was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, and most of the tumors had spread throughout his body. Although unconfirmed, Rodrigue believed cancer could have stemmed from using a toxic paint varnish in his studio during his early career.
After a year of battling the disease, Rodrigue died on December 14th, 2013.
An open mass was held at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans to show how important his memory was to the people of Louisiana.
The Legacy of George Rodrigue
Rodrigue is one of those artists who created multiple legacies.
First, his foundation ensures that Louisiana students can pursue their artistic passions for decades to come.
Second, the Blue Dog series is so iconic that it will live in the hearts and minds of people around the world, even if Rodrigue’s name fades into obscurity. It’s rare for an artist to create a character so recognizable, especially when the artist wasn’t trying to.
On a deeper level, Rodrigue’s legacy is intertwined with the culture and heritage of the Cajun people of Louisiana. The state already has a long and captivating history as a French colony turned US territory turned state.
Also, legends and ghost stories like the Loup-Garou are still prevalent and widely told throughout the region.
Now, Rodrigue is a part of that history, taking existing elements and turning them into something unique yet traditional.
Finally, while the Blue Dog may be Rodrigue’s most enduring creation, his other works are no less engrossing.
Many of his other landscapes and portraits are part of museum collections throughout Louisiana, illustrating the multifaceted side of the artist.
Famous Works of George Rodrigue
It would be impossible to talk about the famous works of George Rodrigue without mentioning the Blue Dog series.
Although there are dozens of different designs, here are three that can look stellar as part of a private collection.
Ho Ho Ho
When you hear those three words, what comes to mind?
Santa, of course!
In this piece, Rodrigue has dressed his signature Blue Dog in the full Santa Claus regalia, including a bushy white beard, red cap, and red stockings.
The dog has its quintessential stare and yellow eyes, but given its costuming, the appearance reflects more what a real dog might look like if put in a similar getup.
Angel Baby
Here we have another piece of Christian mythology–the angel. This piece showcases a white angel statue in the left corner, accompanied by three Blue Dogs with stained-glass wings.
The dogs are identical, although one is flipped to provide a different perspective. In the bottom right corner, there’s a brownish-gray orb that resembles the moon.
George’s Sweet Inspirations
Our final piece also includes Rodrigue’s Blue Dog, but alongside it are renderings of two identical floppy-eared dogs, one brown and one black.
On the chest of the blue dog is a print of a young boy at a school desk, presumably young George practicing his artistic skills.
These elements are set against a deep red background, complete with some Christmas accoutrements, including a tree ornament, a lit candle, and some holly forming a border along the bottom.
If you want to acquire any of these pieces and find many other rare and limited edition works by George Rodrigue, please view the George Rodrigue collection on Dane Fine Art or contact us to find a specific artwork you are searching for. We will be happy to make it available for you.