Hobby Horse

Art Historical Context

**Hobby Horse** by Mina Lowry, created between 1935 and1942, is a watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring 37.3 x 46 cm. This detailed depiction captures a charming American folk toy—a wooden hobby horse, originally 16 inches high, ½ inches long, and 7 wide—evoking the playful spirit of childhood in early American life. Lowry's precise technique blends soft watercolor washes for color and texture with graphite lines for sharp contours, bringing the carved horse's whimsical form and painted decorations to life. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a New Deal-era Federal Art Project, this artwork holds significant historical value. Launched during the Great Depression, the IAD commissioned artists like Lowry to document everyday objects of American folk art, preserving cultural heritage through over 18,000 precise renderings. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it reflects the era's effort to celebrate vernacular craftsmanship amid economic hardship. The hobby horse symbolizes enduring traditions in American toy-making, often handcrafted from wood with folk motifs. Lowry's work not only highlights regional artistry but also underscores the IAD's role in fostering national pride in democratic design, making this piece a delightful window into our shared past.

About the Artist

Mina Lowry · 1894–1942

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...