Snubber for Bull
c. 1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 35.5 x 28.2 cm (14 x 11 1/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 1/2" high; 4 1/2" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.14201
Art Historical Context
"Snubber for Bull" is a meticulous rendering by artist William Frank, created around 1942 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD). This watercolor and graphite work on paperboard (35.5 x 28.2 cm) captures a utilitarian folk object—a bull snubber, a simple yet essential tool used by farmers to safely handle bulls by clamping onto the animal's nose. The original object, measuring just 12 1/2 inches high and 4 1/2 inches wide, exemplifies everyday American craftsmanship from rural life. Produced under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depre...