Wooden Duck

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Wooden Duck*, a 20th-century American artwork from the National Gallery of Art Index of American Design collection. Created between 1935 and 1942 using watercolor, graphite and colored pencil on papermeasuring 36.7 x 42.3 cm), this meticulously renders a carved wooden duck—likely a folk art decoy used by hunters to lure waterfowl. The mixed media technique brings out the wood's natural grain, vibrant paint layers, and whimsical form with precise graphite outlines and luminous washes, blending documentary accuracy with artistic flair. This work emerged from the Index of American De...

About the Artist

American 20th Century

"American 20th Century" is the designation used by major institutions such as the National Gallery of Art (NGA) for anonymous and unidentified artists active in the United States during the twentieth century. The artist's personal identity, early life, and training remain undocumented, reflecting the challenges of attribution for unattributed works from this era. No specific teachers, art schools,...