Michael Ruetz: The Family of Dog

With The Family of Dog, Michael Ruetz has implemented a unique photographic series in the last fifty years which atthe same time presents a subtle and enlightening depiction of people and their social behaviour. Dogs, after all, are whatwe want to see in them and what we make of them. In the rarest case, a dog is simply an animal. Michael Ruetzphotographed dogs on the street, at homes, on the beach or in front of the TV, which usually makes them fall asleep.He depicts them alone, with cats and cows and again and again as man's companion. Ruetz avoids any mise-en-scèneand imposing himself on the animals. Occasional provocative payoffs result from patient observation. As man in hisdaily routine, dogs slide into odd situations all the time.In this sincere and nevertheless ironic book, Michael Ruetz shows the various forms of canine existence, a comédiecanine, in life as in death.