Decoy Duck
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper
Dimensions
overall: 24.5 x 35.3 cm (9 5/8 x 13 7/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9628
Art Historical Context
**Decoy Duck** by Harriette Gale captures the charm of American folk art in a meticulous rendering from the Index of American Design, created between 1935 and 1942. This watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil work on paper (24.5 x 35.3 cm) depicts a classic wooden duck decoy, those hand-carved lures once essential for waterfowl hunters along America's coasts and wetlands. Gale's precise draftsmanship highlights the decoy's weathered textures and vibrant plumage, evoking the ingenuity of everyday craftsmen. As part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) duri...