Bobcat

Art Historical Context

**Bobcat**, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by artist Harry King, dates to the late 1930s or early 1940s (1935/1942) and measures 35.6 x 26.8 cm. Created as part of the *Index of American Design*, this work meticulously documents a small folk art object—a bobcat standing just 5 3/4 inches high and 7 wide. King's precise technique captures the textured fur, alert posture, and whimsical charm of what was likely a hand-carved wooden sculpture, blending realism with artistic interpretation. The *Index of American Design*, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, employed over 400 artists to preserve America's cultural heritage through detailed renderings of everyday objects, tools, and folk crafts. King's contribution highlights regional American folk art traditions, possibly from a rural carver evoking the wild spirit of North American wildlife. Watercolor's fluidity paired with graphite's fine lines allowed for vivid color and exacting detail, making these works both artistic achievements and invaluable historical records. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, *Bobcat* invites visitors to appreciate how WPA artists like King safeguarded vanishing crafts, bridging art, history, and the American story. It's a delightful nod to our nation's inventive folk traditions.

About the Artist

Harry King · 1917–2001

**Harry King (1917–2001)** was an American artist best known for his precise watercolor and graphite renderings of American folk art and decorative objects. Working primarily in the late 1930s and early 1940s, he contributed to the Index of American Design, a federal project under the Works Progress Administration that documented historic American craftsmanship through detailed illustrations. His ...