Rabbit
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 27 x 21.8 cm (10 5/8 x 8 9/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 12" high; 10 1/2" long; 5 1/4" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8301
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 o...
About the Artist
Rex F. Bush
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 ...