The French bulldogs portrayed by Ivan Vavpotč were pets of Marija Košuta (born Korošec), who died around 1982. In the portrait we can see two dogs, the French Bulldog breed. They have black short hair and a white spot on their chest. They lie or. they sit on a red, richly ornamental rug, in front of a brown wall and a window we see in the background. Vavpotič's specialty was the depiction of the material presence of goods, which is clearly visible here on the spread carpet. This, otherwise Biedermeier characteristic, enabled the painter to create tangible details that further emphasized the truthfulness of the painting. Although Vavpotič claimed that the most important element of his works are colors, we cannot ignore the clear drawing that forms the forms. The painter's way of applying the paint is smooth, and the strokes of the brightly lit places are more pasty. The effect of light is this time nicely reflected on the volominous and anatomically correct bodies of dogs. The colors are subdued - from red, black, white, brown and yellow, which gives the image a sense of calm and focus of the motif. The whole focus is on the two quadrupeds, as was certainly the tui desire of the client. Despite the free composition, the painting works calmly and does not fall outside the "frame" of the central motif. Loyal to reality, Vavpotič portrayed two small, stocky and compact dogs, with a wide chest and a pear-shaped body. But at the same time, he also managed to portray the character of both dogs. The French Bulldog has a very calm temperament and is by nature very adaptable, attentive and loving. He is teachable but sometimes stubborn, not overly active, enjoys cuddling and a relaxed nap next to his owner. This is how the bulldogs in the picture look quite calm, although we can imagine that they were not at peace all the time when they were painted by a painter. Vavpotič hinted at their kindness and occasional stubbornness with a look at the viewer and a look that stares past. The testimony of the crunch, however, is hidden in the red embroidery beneath them. The considered and signed image, for a portrait of a dog of rather large dimensions, is placed in the time around 1930. Based on the carpet, we can conclude that the French bulldogs were painted in a domestic environment. The painting French Bulldog is thus not only a portrait of domestic pets, but also the story of a painting that returned to the place where its author created (ANTIQUES NOVAK).
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