Elliott Erwitt’s comical photograph of the bulldog sitting on its owner’s lap exemplifies the adage that dogs really do look like their owners. Well known for his dog images, Erwitt captures the precise moment when, framed by the stoop of a New York City building, the head and body of the dog are in perfect alignment with the arms and legs of its owner. Somewhat fantastical, the superimposed head highlights what Erwitt calls the ‘visual contradictions that are a photographer’s dream’.
As Erwitt recounts: ‘I was out walking with my friend Hiroji [Kubota] around the corner from my studio on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and I didn’t have my camera. I saw the situation and I said, “Could I borrow your camera?” And I borrowed his Leica. He was very generous and let me use it and I shot the whole roll of film on it.’
By the very last picture on the roll, all the compositional and conceptual elements are in place, the absurdity of the image further supported by a second dog on the left sitting in exactly the same pose as the surreal dog-man composite. The contact shows Erwitt’s patience, shooting around an image methodically until he has all the elements synchronized for maximum effect. As he says, ‘It’s a lot of pictures getting to the good one.’
Specification
Size: 18 x 24 in (45.7 x 61 cm)
Printed on 135gsm FSC certified Symbol Tatami paper
This poster is for personal use only, intended for display in the home or other private spaces. For all other purposes, such as display in public spaces or institutions, publishing the image online or in print, or any other form of usage, permission must be granted by Magnum Photos. Please contact the Magnum Shop with any questions.
Framing
Each frame is hand-crafted and made-to-order and includes framing-grade quality plexiglass, which comes with ~60% UV protection.
Please allow up to three additional weeks before your order is shipped when ordering a framed item.
Please note: due to the nature of the framing process the artist archival stamp that is on the recto of our Contact Sheet, Darkroom and Magnum Edition prints will be obscured upon framing.
Shipping
All of our prints are shipped flat and separately from other items in your order. Unframed posters are shipped within a sturdy tube.
If you order a framed print will ship carefully packed in bubble wrap and a sturdy box separately from other items in your order.
Please allow an extra three weeks for delivery for all framed items.
All posters are shipped carefully rolled up in a tube separately from other items in your order. If you order a framed poster it will ship carefully packed in bubble wrap and a sturdy box separately from other items in your order. Please allow an extra 3 weeks for framing your orders.
Kindly be aware that this item will be shipped from the United States and is subject to any applicable duties and taxes imposed by the destination country. These charges will be calculated and applied at the checkout and are the responsibility of the purchaser.
