Joan Mitchell and Her Dogs

From Joan Mitchell’s very first dog, to Marion, Madeleine and Prunelle, all of them cherished companions in her life and work. Joan Mitchell and her dogs: a love story.

Joan Mitchell, an extraordinary figure in 20th-century art, remains one of the most celebrated painters of the Abstract Expressionist movement. Born in 1925, in Chicago, Illinois, she grew to redefine abstraction, blending emotional intensity with lyrical beauty. Her work, characterized by dynamic brushstrokes, vivid colors, and profound emotional depth, established her as a towering presence in a predominantly male art world.

Joan Mitchell had at least nine dogs during her lifetime, and Georges du Soleil, a brown poodle, was her first beloved canine companion. Known for her deep affection for animals, Mitchell treasured Georges as a constant presence during her New York years. Like the other dogs that would follow, Georges was more than just a companion; he was also part of the vibrant, dynamic environment that nourished her creativity and her ability to channel emotion into her art.

＂Dogs are objects of love (I suppose people could be? Sometimes)＂ wrote Joan Mitchell.

From her first dog, the adored Georges du Soleil, to Skye Terriers Idée, Isabelle, and Ibertelle (＂Bertie＂), Brittany Spaniel Patou, German Shepherds Iva, Marion, and Madeleine, and not forgetting Prunelle and Belle-Bête; all of them cherished companions in her life and work, all of them celebrated here. Joan Mitchell and her dogs: a love story.

Laura Morris, is Director of Archives and Research at the Joan Mitchell Foundation. Martin Bethenod has led numerous positions in the field of culture and contemporary art. He has been president of the Crédac-Centre d’art contemporain in Ivry since 2013 and president of the Archives de la Critique d’Art.