George Rodrigue
George Rodrigue was truly one of the most prolific and praised Louisiana artists in history. Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, Rodrigue not only had a gift for capturing the beauty of Louisiana, his Blue Dog has become an iconic symbol of Louisiana art and culture, and is known around the world. His works began in the 1960's with incredible oils of Louisiana Landscapes, then Cajun scenes, and culminating with scenes incorporating both Louisiana landscapes and Tiffany the Blue Dog. Rodrigue's colorful prints are sought around the world, and his acrylic Blue Dog originals break auction house records throughout the country.
Rodrigue's early notable works include "The Aioli Dinner," which divides time between the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and "The Class of Marie Courage, which won Honorable Mention from Le Salon in Paris, France in 1975, prompting French newspaper "Le Figero," to dub Rodrigue "America's Rousseau." Rodrigue's most famous early works included Evangeline (the Acadian heroine), and Jolie Blonde (the Cajun modern day Evangeline). He also designed three prints for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which feature portraits of Jazz Greats Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain, and Al Hirt. Rodrigue also painted beautiful portraits of Louisiana Politicians, including: Huey P. Long, Earl K. Long, and Edwin W. Edwards. Rodrigue also famously painted a series of fifteen paintings chronicling the journey of the Acadians from France to Nova Scotia to Louisiana, ending with the official return visit to Grand Pre.
More recently and worldwide, Rodrigue is known for the creation of the Blue Dog series of paintings, featuring a blue-hued dog. He used the shape and stance of his dog named Tiffany and was influenced by the loop-garou legend and often featuring Louisiana landscapes as a backdrop. In 1992, Rodrigue was honored as an About Vodka artist, joining the ranks of Andy Warhol and glass artist Hans Godo Frabel. The Blue Dog was also used by the Xerox Corporation in national ad campaigns, and is featured on the label of Pret a Boire, a lovely Rose.
George Rodrigue passed away in October of 2013, but his works, and the Blue Dog, remain a symbol of Louisiana Culture and a status symbol among Louisiana natives spread around the world.
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"George Rodrigue's Boat," an important original work by George Rodrigue (1993)
This important, late Cajun Scene features the artist’s late, brighter color palate with a return to his iconic Oak tree and pirogue (boat). This Bayou Scene is one of his finest works for color and subject, and features masterful brushwork. Framed in an antique gilt gold frame from the 1800’s. Truly one of Rodrigue’s most stunning acadian originals, this piece also features a “Blue Dog” sketch en verso, with an inscription by the artist titling the piece “George Rodrigue’s Boat.” Perhaps the best representation of the pirogue and the oak ever created by Louisiana’s Rousseau. (20x24)
Blue Dog Original Art "Off the Wall Blue Dog" by George Rodrigue
A one of a kind original sculpture on wood that features both a carved, three dimensional Blue Dog wearing a tie, and a normal blue dog on the back. The piece is a hand painted sculpture by the artist that “floats” off the wall and can be reversed. Sits within an antique gilt wood frame, affixed to the wall by dowel rod which rests, by design, in the center of the sculpture.
"Acadian Landscape" 1996, original acrylic on canvas by George Rodrigue
This stunning 16in x 20in original work by Rodrigue features his early iconic oak and bayou scene with the color palate of his later work, brighter blues and greens dominate the work, and the colors in this work truly exemplify Rodrigue’s mastery of both his classic Louisiana subject and the pop art genre. Framed in an antique gilt frame from the 1800’s. A truly phenomenal work by Louisiana’s most important artist!
"Almost Primary Dog" an original Tiffany by George Rodrigue (1993)
This original Rodrigue features a large Tiffany, George Rodrigue’s beloved dog and the inspiration for the Blue Dog. To Rodrigue, all the Blue Dogs were Tiffany, and Tiffany pieces are among his most beloved originals due to the fact that he painted far less of them than the Blue Dog. This work features two cypress trees in vivid blue on a bright pop art pink and yellow background.
Cajun Houses with Oak on the Bayou, by George Rodrigue
A sketch on specialty, high quality artist paper with gold lining, this original sketch captures an acadian landscape and homestead that defined Rodrigue’s early work and is informed by his Cajun culture and the land where he began his artistic career.
Have an original Cajun, Bayou, or Oak scene by Rodrigue? We can help you find the perfect home for that piece!
Blue Dog "Circle of Life" by George Rodrigue (2004)
This piece was created as Blue Dog VI, using a combination of original work and digital design by the artist using a geometric pattern in a nod to Piet Mondrian and his pioneering work with abstract and geometric patterns and color. This important silkscreen takes up an entire page of the Artist’s Catalogue Raisonne, and is a large scale, hand pulled silkscreen. (36x36) Edition of only 25.
"20th Anniversary New Orleans" by George Rodrigue (2009)
This work is an excellent example of Rodrigue’s work: featuring a hand pulled silkscreen of the Blue Dog in vivid blues, contrasted with a silver metallic chrome paper that was created in 2009 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Rodrigue Studio in New Orleans. This piece is truly one that has to be seen in person to appreciate fully how incredible it is. This piece is Louisiana Art, LLC’s Cayman Clevenger’s favorite Blue Dog, and the first piece of art he ever sold. Edition of only 150. Hand signed in red paint pen, hand of the artist. (26x37)
"By the Light of the Moon, Split-Font," original silkscreen by George Rodrigue (1992)
From the private collection of the artist and his wife, this piece is a very rare early silkscreen split font, with some of the brightest and most rich colors of any ever produced by Rodrigue. This work features all three dogs, the Red Dog, the traditional Tiffany, and the Blue Dog. It also features a silkscreen layer of metallic gold Blue Dog heads and the candle, a lasting symbol of goodness and light in the artist’s works. (33x23)
"This Old House," original silkscreen by George Rodrigue (1999)
This hand pulled original silkscreen has incredibly vivid colors and is reminiscent of the first ever Blue Dog painting. A truly stunning Rodrigue silkscreen that combines an ancient Cajun home with the iconic Rodrigue Oaks, bayou scene, and moon. Edition of only 130. (30x21)
"Don't Like Bein' Blue," original silkscreen by George Rodrigue (1993)
This early, hand pulled silkscreen is an iconic example of Rodrigue’s mastery of silkscreen printing: featuring the Blue Dog and the Red Dog, this piece also showcases the acadian landscape, in pop colors, that the defined the majority of the world-renowned artist’s career. The iconic Oak is also present behind the dog. Edition of only 120 (16x23)
"Mardi Gras '96: Black," by George Rodrigue (1999)
This piece, one of the most beloved Rodrigue Blue Dogs Mardi Gras pieces has a truly three dimensional quality to it, it is a heavily layered silkscreen with a bright confetti in traditional purple and green around the Blue Dog, which is adorned in a Mardi Gras King’s crown and red and gold cape that really makes it jump off the paper. This is an extremely rare and stunning silkscreen from the original edition of just 120 (1999).
"Sweetheart Memories" by George Rodrigue (1998)
This important work features two blue dogs from two different era of the blue dog. One of the few to have two different types of blue dog and flowers, a happy motif in Rodrigue’s work that appears in his most sought after pieces. This is also one of the only pieces to feature both a yellow and red pop art background with the Blue Dog, providing the perfect contrast and delivering pop art greatness. (22x34). Edition size of only 80, designated artist proof.
"I See You, You See Me: Split Font," original silkscreen by George Rodrigue (1993)
From the private collection of the artist, this original split-font is a hand pulled, early silkscreen utilizing the brightest and most vivid colors used in Rodrigue’s printmaking process. This piece features the iconic Blue Dog eyes, reminiscent of the eye of a hurricane, a popular symbol in the artist’s works, and even the subject of a series of original works by the artist on hurricanes. Edition of only 35. (16x23)