Cow Bell
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, gouache, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.7 x 26.6 cm (14 1/16 x 10 1/2 in.) Original IAD Object: 6"h; 4 1/2"wide; 2 1/2"diameter
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6710
Art Historical Context
Georgina King's *Cow Bell* (c. 1940) is a meticulous rendering of a humble yet iconic piece of American folk craft—a traditional cow bell measuring 6 inches high, 4½ inches wide, and ½ inches in diameter. using watercolor, colored pencil, gou, and graphite on paper35.7 × 26.6 cm), this mixed-media work captures the bell's weathered patina, sturdy iron form, and subtle leather strap with remarkable precision and vibrancy. King's skilled layering of translucent watercolors and opaque gouache brings out the object's tactile qualities, evoking the rustic charm of rural life. As part of the Index ...