Cow Bell

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 of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942, this artwork contributes to a vast visual archive documenting everyday American objects. Artists like King, working in the Department of Decorative Arts (CG-W), produced over 15,000 renderings to preserve the nation's material culture amid the Great Depression, highlighting folk traditions that shaped national identity. The cow bell symbolizes pastoral heritage, used by farmers to track livestock across open fields—a practical tool turned cultural emblem. King's technique not only records its form but celebrates its enduring functionality, inviting visitors to appreciate the artistry in ordinary things. Now in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it reminds us of America's agrarian roots.