THE LOUVRE HAS GONE TO THE DOGS IN THIS CARTOON

This is a cartoon that I found on ebay that was taken from a publication called "Tournées" and published shortly after the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa.  It satirizes the Louvre's decision to augment the security at the museum with dogs. The headline says "The watchdogs who ensure barriers to the Louvre ... as a result of the theft of the Mona Lisa, we just add dog guards the Museum."

The cartoon is by noted French illustrator Gus Bofa (1883-1968). Let's look at each panel.

PANEL #1: A bulldog leads a guard holding a cane in hot pursuit - not of a suspect -- but of an insect. The caption says: "The dogs will not be used, as we might expect, to prevent theft, but to guide the guards who demonstrated in the disappearance (of the Mona Lisa), complete blindness ...

PANEL #2: Two tourists confront a Poodle (?) who is begging. The caption: " ...and also, as is right, to collect tips  from visitors without fear of trickery."

PANEL #3 shows a St. Bernard rushing to the aid of some stranded visitors. "...and yet-to-be-discovered campers are lost in the winter freeze in the gallery of Antiques. A Saint Bernard is guaranteed to be attached to this service."

PANEL #4 shows a growling canine.  The caption discuses a dog's necessary qualifications to work at the museum. "Of course we do not require the candidates to have any artistic knowledge, but a certificate of citizenship.

PANEL #5: Shows a greyhound guarding a prestigious painting.  The caption cays "... except for heraldic greyhounds who should be entrusted with custody of the noblest effigies, on the orders of M. Dujardin-Beaumetz."

Dujardin-Beaumetz was France's Undersecretary of Fine Arts and, as such, he was the government official  in charge of all French museumns including the Louvre.  After the theft of the Mona Lisa, many people looking to assess blame for the museum's poor security pointed their fingers directly at him.  In the cartoon below, a sleeping Dujardin-Beaumetz has fitful dreams about the Mona Lisa.

And in the final panel four cartoon....

PANEL #6: No surprise what the dog is doing here.  The caption reads: "And thus, the Louvre is finally well guarded. But now who's going to guard the dogs?