Coolidge Classic Vintage Dog Poker Game Art Button

A Friend in Need is a famous 1903 oil painting by American artist Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, part of his iconic series of 16 paintings commissioned by Brown & Bigelow to advertise cigars. The series, collectively known as Dogs Playing Poker, depicts various anthropomorphized dogs engaged in human activities, with a focus on card games. This specific work features seven dogs gathered around a card table in a dimly lit room. The title refers to the central, humorous element where a bulldog is discreetly passing an ace to his partner under the table with his back paw. Considered a staple of American pop culture and an example of "kitsch" art, the painting is widely reproduced on various products today.