1944-2013. Born and raised in southwest Louisiana, “Cajun Country,” George Rodrigue preserved on his canvas what he feared was his dying heritage — including its land, people, traditions and mythology. It was a Cajun legend, the loup-garou, that spawned his most famous series,
BLUE: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue will start streaming on May 29, 2025, on PBS.org and premiere nationally on public television stations starting May 29 (check local listings). WLAE in New Orleans is the presenting station for the film, which is distributed by American Public Television.
“I grew up feeling a strong relationship to the old things, to the old culture, and I got a stronger feeling when I went to Los Angeles to school. I really started to understand how different I was and how different my Louisiana was.”
Internationally Renowned Louisiana Artist George Rodrigue – Creator of Iconic “Blue Dog” Series – Celebrated in First Career-Spanning Documentary to Premiere Nationally on Public Television Stations and PBS.org Starting May 29, 2025 BLUE: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue Unpacks Cajun Artist’s Success and Legacy, With Rare, Never-Seen Visuals, […]
I’ve always approached painting knowing that my job is not to make an accurate representation of a subject–
IT’S GOT TO TRANSCEND THAT.
Happy Mother’s Day and remembering the artist’s mother!
George’s mother, Marie Rodrigue, was tough, ‘solid,’ as George used to say, with legs like tree stumps (her description...)...…and the closest she ever came to happiness was in worrying about it. Like most of her generation, the Depression hovered over her decisions, threatening to return at any moment.
Marie Rodrigue, a devout Catholic, proud to be ‘French’ as opposed to ‘Cajun,’ was an odd and some would say charming mixture of funny and mean. “She has no filter,” George used to say in response to her biting comments. If it entered her head, it came out of her mouth, and like most families, maybe all families, it was those closest to her that felt the sting.
George, an only child, tried to please her, and perhaps that is the best that can be said of their relationship. She bragged about George to others, yet she existed on another plane from her son, unable to acknowledge his accomplishments where it mattered most, to his face. Fortunately, her wit softened the blow. “She didn’t think she was funny,’ says George, “but she had a dry, cynical humor that cut to the chase real fast.” He loved her deeply and lied daily to his mother, because he wanted her happiness. (Pictured, Marie Rodrigue at a Rodrigue exhibition circa 2004)
Rodrigue chose to paint the loup-garou who, according to legend, is a cursed human who transforms into a werewolf under the full moon. A French and Cajun version of the bogeyman myth; it was a story familiar to Rodrigue who remembered how early in his childhood his mother would tell him if he was not good during the day then the loup-garou would come and get him that night.
As was often his practice to use photographs as foundations for his paintings, Rodrigue began looking through his pictures to find an image he could use as inspiration for this loup-garou painting. What he found was a photograph of his deceased studio dog, Tiffany, from which he used her shape and characteristic stance as a rough outline for his interpretation of the loup-garou.
Learn more in the essay “Blue Dog: How a Cajun Legend Became a Pop Icon,” at link tree in bio ⬆️
Pictured, Tiffany, photographed by George Rodrigue circa 1974 #tbt
In 1991, George Rodrigue created a painting called Right Place, Wrong Time, featuring his iconic Blue Dog as the focal point. Early in the Blue Dog series, Rodrigue imagined the dog, inspired by his late pet Tiffany, as being on a journey to find him. In this narrative, Tiffany’s spirit mistakenly ended up in the wrong artist’s studio, adding a layer of playful mystique to the Blue Dog’s presence. In Right Place, Wrong Time, the Blue Dog appears in a surreal scene, set against a backdrop of nude figures inspired by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres’ 19th-century painting Turkish Bath. This juxtaposition is framed within one of Rodrigue’s signature Louisiana landscapes, characterized by dark, brooding oak trees, enhancing the painting’s enigmatic mood.
A year later, Rodrigue created duplicate versions of Right Place, Wrong Time in a different medium. In the early 1990s, Rodrigue occasionally created versions of his Cajun and Blue Dog paintings that were not lithographs or silkscreens but were done in multiples. He called these versions Direct Image Transfers (DIT), and they were primarily created at the request of a collector if a desired original painting was no longer available. You can think of a DIT as a high-quality, large-format photograph of a painting rendered on masonite board or canvas. Rodrigue usually covered these works with a layer of varnish to protect the image. We’ve added a UV plexiglass to preserve the work’s color and surface.
Rodrigue created DITs for a few years before committing fully to the printmaking process as a way to reproduce his work. For that reason, there are not many DITs in circulation.
Right Place, Wrong Time
1992
Direct Image Transfer on wood masonite
40 x 30 inches (sold framed as is)
Newly available and on display at Rodrigue Studios New Orleans. Contact us at [email protected] to learn more.
Explore the painting, Boudreaux Goes Courtin’. A notable work by George Rodrigue created in 1993. This oil on canvas measures 24 x 30 inches and is our Catalogue Raisonné highlight of the week, currently on view in New Orleans, for the first time at the Cabildo’s “Rodrigue, Before the Blue Dog” exhibition.
If you own an original work by George Rodrigue, the Rodrigue family would love to hear from you. They are currently documenting all of his one-of-a-kind pieces in preparation for a catalogue raisonné of his entire life’s work.
To learn more about the process and requirements, visit this page: https://georgerodrigue.com/catalogue-raisonne/ or contact us at [email protected].
On the 30th anniversary of George Rodrigue’s 1995 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival poster, we honor its depiction of Louis Armstrong, a New Orleans native and jazz legend, with his trumpet, set against Rodrigue’s oak tree and Blue Dog. This artwork reflects the festival’s legacy since 1970, celebrating the city’s diverse musical heritage. As Jazz Fest 2025 continues, share your memories below. #JazzFest #LouisArmstrong #GeorgeRodrigue #NOLA
(New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival: Louis Armstrong, 1995, Silkscreen on paper, 35 x 20 inches, Edition: 2,500, NFS)
🎉 Thrilled to share that George Rodrigue’s new documentary shines in The Daily Variety’s “TV News Roundup”! The film “Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue” by WLAE-TV, premiering May 29, 2025, on public TV and PBS.org, explores his journey from Cajun roots to global fame with the iconic Blue Dog.
Featuring exclusive interviews with figures like Emeril Lagasse and Drew Brees, it’s a must-watch! Check out the article at link tree in bio ⬆️ 🌟
Be sure to follow @rodriguebluedogfilm for updates #GeorgeRodrigue #BlueDog #Variety #Documentary
Get ready for BLUE: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue! This first-ever documentary on the iconic Louisiana artist and creator of the beloved Blue Dog premieres May 29, 2025, on public TV stations and streaming online via the PBS.org website! 📺 💻
Dive into George’s inspiring journey from Cajun roots to global Pop Art fame with never-before-seen footage, candid interviews with family and admirers like Emeril Lagasse and Drew Brees, and excerpts from his final interview. Directed by Sean O’Malley and presented by WLAE New Orleans, this award-winning film celebrates Rodrigue’s legacy and resilience.
Check out the trailer below, follow @rodriguebluedogfilm and join us in honoring a true American art icon! #BlueDog #GeorgeRodrigue
🔗 More info at link in bio ⬆️
George Rodrigue visited the beach for the first time in the summer of 1957 in Biloxi, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where he and his family spent a great deal of time when he was young. This silkscreen expands on Rodrigue’s memories of family trips to the Florida and Mississippi Gulf Coast. Sit in Your Own Chair highlights a row of brightly colored Adirondack chairs, each one most likely assigned to a particular family member, (as designated by the matching dog) for which he or she was responsible for set up and removal.
As legend has it, the Adirondack chair originated in 1903 in New York State’s Adirondack forest preserve. It was first conceived by Thomas Lee, a man wanting to construct a truly comfortable lawn chair to furnish his summer home. But, this chair with its signature slanted back, wide armrests and low-to-the ground seating, has made it a very popular chair for the beach.
SIT IN YOUR OWN CHAIR
2013
An Original Silkscreen by George Rodrigue
Numbered Edition of 275
#112-275 Official Rodrigue Estate Stamp
21×38 inches
Available online at Rodrigue Studios at link in bio ⬆️
