Snipe Decoy
1941
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 53.6 x 34 cm (21 1/8 x 13 3/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9624
Art Historical Context
**Snipe Decoy** by Lawrence Flynn, created in 1941, is a meticulous rendering that captures the charm of American folk art. Measuring 53.6 x 34 cm, this work on paperboard employs watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil to vividly depict a carved wooden decoy used by hunters to lure snipe birds. Flynn's precise technique highlights the decoy's naturalistic form, feathers, and subtle coloration, blending fine art methods with documentary accuracy. As part of the *Index of American Design*—a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (1935–1942)—this piece preserves everyday o...
About the Artist
Lawrence Flynn
Lawrence Flynn (1900–1973) was an American artist born in New Haven, Connecticut, where he attended the city's public schools. He pursued formal art training at the Art Students League in New York, studying anatomy under the renowned instructor George B. Bridgman, whose anatomical teachings profoundly influenced generations of artists. Flynn also honed his skills at the Yale School of Fine Arts, t...