Case Auctions Features Fine Art by Prominent Louisiana Artists of the Past and Present

The first day of Case Auctions’ winter sale of fine art, antiques, and jewelry, scheduled for late January, particularly features notable works of fine art by Louisiana artists of the past and present. This includes iconic “Blue Dog” works by George Rodrigue, as well as folk art works by Andrew Hopkins and Clementine Hunter. Here are a few of the key lots on offer from these prominent Louisiana artists.

George Rodrigue 

American artist George Rodrigue grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana during the 1950s, witnessing broad cultural changes in his country and community. Once Rodrigue headed to art school, Louisiana remained at the front of his mind, and he later returned to paint and preserve the culture, traditions, and myths of his Cajun heritage. He first focused on painting the Acadian landscape of his home and capturing everyday Cajun people. In 1984, Rodrigue illustrated a ghost story book that included the loup-garou, a “crazy werewolf dog” from French/Cajun legend. He modeled the loup-garou image on a photograph of his dog, Tiffany, and painted her with blue fur and bright yellow eyes. Rodrigue would go on to become an icon of Pop Art, and his “Blue Dog” paintings are now his most famous works. 

Available from Case Auctions this January is a George Rodrigue “Blue Dog” painting titled A Louisiana Sunday Morning. This acrylic on canvas work was executed in 2012, just a year before the artist’s death. The auction house notes that Rodrigue painted this hopeful scene of the dog sitting in front of a basket of flowers shortly after a period of health troubles. Two candles in the composition symbolize his second chance at life. This work comes to auction with an estimate of USD 50,000 to $60,000 (lot #133). 

Andrew LaMar Hopkins 

Contemporary artist Andrew LaMar Hopkins was born in Mobile, Alabama and settled in New Orleans, Louisiana as a teenager. He spent much of his early life researching the history of French Louisiana and the development of Creole culture. As a descendent of this history, he grew interested in the long-forgotten period of the 1830s, when free Creole people of color owned property and wielded power in New Orleans. Hopkins began painting scenes from this past in a faux-naïf style filled with bold colors and creative compositions. 

An example of Andrew LaMar Hopkins’ signature style is available in the upcoming Case Antiques event. Marie Laveau Gris-Gris is an acrylic on canvas board painting from 2014. In the piece, set in the mid-19th-century, the renowned Voodoo practitioner, herbalist, and midwife Marie Laveau is shown leaving the home of a white woman. A blossoming orange tree stands on the street before her. This painting has a presale estimate of $6,000 to $7,000 (lot #125). 

Clementine Hunter

Another notable Louisiana artist represented in the Case Auctions sale catalog is Clementine Hunter. A self-taught artist from the Cane River region of Louisiana, Hunter grew up in a Creole family and spent most of her life living and working on the Melrose Plantation. She taught herself to paint using leftover materials from visiting artists and received no formal training. Nevertheless, Hunter developed a distinct style filled with bright colors and an organized visual language. She painted from memory to capture the scenes, rituals, and everyday life of early 20th-century plantation life for Black people. She became one of the most famous and successful folk artists of the United States. 

Clementine Hunter’s Wash Day Scene, an oil on board painting, is available with Case Auctions this winter. The work depicts two women washing laundry with a pot, washboard, and clothesline. It is signed in the right margin and comes to auction with an estimate of $1,800 to $2,200 (lot #116).

Case Auctions’ Winter – Day 1: Fine Art, Antiques & Jewelry sale will begin at 9:00 AM EST on January 27, 2024. To view the complete catalog and register to bid online, visit Bidsquare. Additional coverage of this event is available on Auction Daily.