The Dog

From the earliest daguerreotypes and cartes de visite to captivating portraits from photographers on the forefront of today's art scene, the images in The Dog: 100 Years of Classic Photography are as stunning as the dogs are endearing. Just as dog lovers have long been aware that man's best friend is among the most naturally photogenic of subjects, contemporary greats such as Keith Carter and Sally Mann have also picked up on the undeniable chemistry that exists between canines and the camera. But in The Dog: 100 Years of Classic Photography from the editor of the landmark The Dog Observed, it's apparent that the masters from the earlier part of the century were also well-acquainted with the dog-as-subject genre. In Robert Capa's Rome (1943) a young soldier gingerly places a small puppy in his combat helmet. Protection, loyalty, camaraderie—all themes associated with war are evoked in a single photograph of a boy and a dog. Likewise, Robert Doisneau brings to light a Paris that is at once familiar without being trite, simply by photographing a dog looking into the camera while his master turns away on the Pont des Arts. Each photograph in this remarkable collection reflects a unique moment in time, and the sometimes surprising, occasionally humorous, always intimate relationship people have with their dogs. Whether it's the fine art photography buff or the most dedicated of dog lovers, The Dog: 100 Years of Classic Photography is guaranteed to set more than just a few tails wagging.

Ruth Silverman was formerly the Associate Curator of the International Center of Photography. Her previous books, The Dog Observed and Athletes, each won the Photography-Book-of-the-Year award and were organized as traveling exhibitions by the Smithsonian Institution. She is also the author of San Francisco Observed.