Cow Bell
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 38.8 x 30.9 cm (15 1/4 x 12 3/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8812
Art Historical Context
**Cow Bell** (1935/1942) is a captivating watercolor and graphite drawing on paper, measuring 38.8 x 30.9 cm, created by an American 20th-century artist part of the *Index of American Design*. project, housed in the National of Art's CG-W, meticulously documented everyday American folk objects, transforming humble items like this cow bell—a practical tool used by farmers to track livestock—into celebrated works of art. The piece exemplifies the era's focus on national identity through design, rendering the bell's weathered metal, rivets, and leather strap with remarkable precision and vibrancy...
About the Artist
American 20th Century
"American 20th Century" is the designation used by major institutions such as the National Gallery of Art (NGA) for anonymous and unidentified artists active in the United States during the twentieth century. The artist's personal identity, early life, and training remain undocumented, reflecting the challenges of attribution for unattributed works from this era. No specific teachers, art schools,...