Duck Decoy
1937
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 29.3 x 39.8 cm (11 9/16 x 15 11/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 3/4" long; 5 1/2" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17980
Art Historical Context
**Duck Decoy** by Max Fernekes (1937) is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 29.3 x 39.8 cm. This precise depiction captures a traditional wooden duck decoy—originally 12 3/4 inches long and 51/2 inches highshowcasing the intricate carving and painting that brought these functional objects to life. Fernekes, a illustrator, employed delicate washes of watercolor to mimic the decoy's feathered textures and subtle color gradients, enhanced by fine graphite lines for anatomical accuracy. Created as part of the *Index of American Design* (IAD), a Federal Art Project...