Man with Cello

Art Historical Context

"Man with Cello" a captivating rendering by artist Mina Lowry, created between 1935 and1942 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD This watercolor, graphite, and gou work on paper meticulously documents a small folk art carving—originally just 9½ inches high and 2½ inches wide—depicting a musician cradling his cello. Lowry's piece, measuring 29.3 x 22.5 cm overall, captures the whimsical charm of vernacular American craftsmanship, likely from the 19th century, highlighting everyday objects that embodied cultural identity. The IAD was a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, employing artists to preserve vanishing American decorative arts through precise, colorful illustrations. Lowry's contribution exemplifies this mission, transforming a humble wooden figure into a vibrant record of folk traditions, blending realism with artistic flair. The mixed media technique—watercolor for luminous color, gouache for opaque highlights, and graphite for fine details—allowed for hyper-realistic accuracy while evoking the carving's tactile warmth. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this work underscores the IAD's enduring legacy in safeguarding America's artistic heritage for future generations.

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...