Sausage dog spotlight: exhibition celebrates dachshunds in art

“The Dachshund: An Icon off the Leash” opens at the Kunsthalle Bremen this Saturday, showcasing works by artists including Pablo Picasso, David Hockney, and Andy Warhol, alongside a collection of dachshund-themed toys and objects. Museum director Christoph Grunenberg stated that this is the first exhibition dedicated specifically to the dachshund’s representation in art.

“There are many artists who owned dachshunds, who were inspired by the dachshund, loved the dachshund,” Grunenberg explained. “It was like a muse and there is an incredible wealth of representation of the dachshund in very different styles by significant artists.”

The breed has a long history in Germany, with Kaiser Wilhelm II and Britain’s Queen Victoria both being known admirers. Exhibits have been sourced from locations including Edinburgh, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh.

German artist Thorsten Brinkmann’s work, including a bronze sculpture featuring a dachshund with handbag legs and the “Toxie Love” installation, sets a playful tone. Brinkmann described the dachshund’s form as “very curious… kind of too long, actually, with the short legs — and it looks already surrealistic to me.”

To allow canine visitors to experience the show, the museum will permit dachshunds and other small dogs (under 30 centimeters or 1 foot in height) into designated areas on Thursdays and Saturdays, requiring advance online tickets and a “Dachshund Lounge” for waiting.

Finnish photographer Elina Brotherus, whose dachshund Marcello served as a model since 2013, previewed the exhibition. “I did not manage to have children, so then we got him and he’s my baby,” she said.

Kelsey Crossman, a business developer from Florida, attended a preview with her dachshund, Leonidas, noting the dogs’ appeal lies in “their attitudes — they’re small, but they’re very strong and a little stubborn.”