Corn Husk Doll

Art Historical Context

**Corn Husk Doll**, a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering by Mina Lowry circa 1936, captures charming simplicity of a traditional American craft. Measuring nearly 12 by 9 inches on paperboard, this artwork depicts an 11-inch-high corn husk, a handmade figure crafted from dried corn husks, often adorned with simple fabric or yarn details. Lowry's precise depiction highlights the doll's whimsical form—its soft, textured body evoking rural ingenuity and playfulness. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, this piece served a vital cultural mission. From 1935 to 1942, over 200 artists like Lowry documented thousands of everyday American objects, from quilts to whirligigs, to celebrate and preserve the nation's folk heritage amid economic hardship. Corn husk dolls, rooted in pioneer and Native American traditions, symbolized resourcefulness and storytelling, passed down through generations in rural communities. Lowry's masterful use of watercolor for subtle husks tones and graphite for fine outlines exemplifies the IAD's emphasis on accurate, museum-quality reproductions. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it invites visitors to appreciate how everyday crafts embody America's creative spirit.

About the Artist

Mina Lowry · 1894–1942

Mina Lowry (1894–1942), an American artist born in Canada, emerged as a prominent portrait painter whose career bridged traditional portraiture and the documentation of American folk art. Immigrating to Buffalo, New York, with her family around 1901, she honed her skills early on, winning first prize for modeling at the Albright Art School and studying under the esteemed Florence J. Bach. Lowry fu...