Pusia Crowned by Demons in Jerusalem

What the painting shows

The painting shows a dog called Pusia: a grey-brown mixed breed of the German Shepherd or herding type, with large upright ears, a dark muzzle and amber eyes. The dog is shown in profile facing left, calm and dignified, in the centre of the lower half of the composition.

Behind Pusia stretches a burning, surreal city in shades of ochre, yellow and sandy beige that resembles Jerusalem: dense buildings, towers, minarets and ruins, with blue hills on the horizon. Fires break out in several places and columns of black smoke rise, while a winged creature resembling a pterodactyl flies over the rooftops. On the left a giant spider slides down a burning streak.

At the top of the painting, two thin grey demons with tails hold a jewelled golden crown topped with a cross above the dog's head. In the bottom left corner stands an arched gateway, a red trickle runs from a small window, and next to it is a small figure in red and white that resembles the Madonna. The title says it plainly: Pusia is crowned by demons in Jerusalem during complete mayhem.

Technique and style

A square oil painting on canvas in a Surrealist style, clearly influenced by Salvador Dalí and Hieronymus Bosch: grotesque creatures, an apocalyptic landscape and ambiguous symbolism. The dog is painted realistically, with care given to the fur and the light, while the city is sketchier. The crown is painted in gold with raised dots that imitate gemstones. The sky's shift from turquoise to yellow emphasises the heat and the apocalyptic mood.

At a glance

• Medium: oil paint
• Surface: canvas
• Orientation: square
• Dominant colours: ochre, yellow, turquoise, grey-brown, gold, red
• Subjects: dog, German Shepherd, Jerusalem, crown, demons, apocalypse, Surrealism

Fun fact

Psychiatrists describe a condition called Jerusalem syndrome. Some tourists visiting Jerusalem, often with no history of mental illness, suddenly develop religious delusions: they wrap themselves in white bed sheets, preach in the streets and believe they are biblical figures. The Kfar Shaul psychiatric hospital in Jerusalem admits dozens of such patients every year, and the symptoms usually fade once they leave the city.

Want a similar painting?

The Fart studio paints commissioned artwork: portraits of people and pets, landscapes and absurd scenes like this one. You can order a similar piece featuring dog, German Shepherd, Jerusalem, starring your own pet, a loved one or your favourite place. Just describe your idea in the contact form and attach a photo.