Bear's Head

Art Historical Context

**Bear's Head** by Laura Bilodeau, around 1939, captures the spirited essence of American design in watercolor and graphite onboard. Measuring 40.8 x 303 cm, this intimate work belongs to the National Gallery of's Index of American Design (CG-W). Bilodeau's precise rendering highlights the tactile details of a carved bear's head, blending fluid watercolor washes for depth and graphite lines for sharp contours—a technique ideal for documenting three-dimensional objects with lifelike accuracy. As part of the Federal Art under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, the Index of American Design commissioned artists like Bilodeau to produce over 15,000 such illustrations. These works preserved everyday American crafts, from whirligigs to trade signs, celebrating the nation's cultural heritage amid economic hardship. **Bear's Head** exemplifies this mission, showcasing bold, whimsical motifs rooted in regional folklore and craftsmanship that defined early 20th-century identity. This piece invites visitors to appreciate how everyday designs reflected America's rugged spirit, bridging art and history in a single, vivid frame.