George Rodrigue (American/Louisiana, 1944-2013) , "America", 2005, oil on canvas, signed lower right, 24 in. x 36 in., framed. Note: George Rodrigue often returned to the symbolic colors of red, white and blue within his Blue Dog series, creating dozens of patriotic-themed works. According to Wendy Rodrigue, “…the Blue Dog retains an underlying quality more consistent than its Cajun roots, its repetitive and hard-edge ‘Pop’ style, and its predictable stance. The Blue Dog, after twenty-five years of development remains, always, American.” As the Blue Dog series progressed, Rodrigue subtly refined the image and heightened the design elements, and he also saturated the dog with color. The pale, bluish-gray of the early loup-garou became an intense blue perfectly in line with the American flag. Rodrigue’s use of a patriotic theme was a natural meld with the Blue Dog, as the artist was inspired both by the colors themselves and his own unwavering American spirit.
Ref.: Rodrigue, Wendy. “The American Blue Dog.” Musings of an Artist’s Wife. Aug. 6, 2010. www.wendyrodrigue.com. Accessed July 30, 2019.