Figure of a Deer
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, gouache, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 28.9 x 22.2 cm (11 3/8 x 8 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 17 1/2" high; 13" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8249
Art Historical Context
**Figure of a Deer** by Mina Lowry, created around 1937, captures the whimsical charm of American folk art through delicate watercolor, gouache, pen and ink on paper. Measuring 28.9 x 22.2 cm, this detailed rendering depicts a wooden deer sculpture standing 17½ inches high and 13 inches long—likely a cherished example of vernacular carving from the early 20th century or earlier. Lowry's precise lines and vibrant washes bring out the deer's graceful form, evoking the playful spirit of roadside attractions or shop signs common in rural America. As part of the *Index of American Design* (IAD), a...
About the Artist
Mina Lowry
Mina Lowry (1894–1942), an American artist born in Canada, emerged as a prominent portrait painter whose career bridged traditional portraiture and the documentation of American folk art. Immigrating to Buffalo, New York, with her family around 1901, she honed her skills early on, winning first prize for modeling at the Albright Art School and studying under the esteemed Florence J. Bach. Lowry fu...