Rabbit

Art Historical Context

In the whimsical *Rabbit* (c. 1936), artist Rex F. Bush captures the charm of an American folk art carving through delicate watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paperboard. Measuring 27 x 21.8 cm, this precise rendering depicts a three-dimensional wooden rabbit—originally 12 inches high, 10½ inches long, and 5¼ inches wide—likely a handcrafted toy or decorative object from early American craftsmanship. Bush's meticulous technique highlights the sculpture's smooth contours, expressive ears, and playful posture, bringing to life the naive yet endearing style of vernacular art. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942, this work exemplifies efforts to document and celebrate the nation's artistic heritage during the Great Depression. Over 15,000 such renderings preserved everyday objects like quilts, whirligigs, and carvings, ensuring their cultural legacy amid economic hardship. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, *Rabbit* underscores the IAD's role in valuing folk traditions as vital to American identity, blending artistry with historical preservation in a single, vibrant sheet.

About the Artist

Rex F. Bush · 1915–2002

Rex F. Bush (c. 1915–2002) was an American artist best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression era. Active primarily from 1935 to 1942, Bush produced watercolor, gouache, graphite, and pen-and-ink renderings on paperboard that documented everyday American folk ...