Wooden Pig
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 22.9 x 29.9 cm (9 x 11 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 6" long; 4" high; 1 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
1943.8.15641
Art Historical Context
**Wooden Pig** *Wilbur M. Rice, 1935/1942* Watercolor and graphite on paper 22.9 × 29.9 cm (9 × 11 3/4 in.) Index of American Design, National of Art This charming watercolor and graphite rendering by Wilbur M. Rice captures delightful hand-carved wooden pig, quintessential piece of American folk art. Measuring 6 inches long, 4 inches high, 1 1/2 inches wide its original form, the diminutive sculpture likely served as a toy, whirligig, or humble decorative object, crafted by an anonymous artisan with simple tools and a keen eye for whimsical form. Rice's precise technique—blending the...
About the Artist
Wilbur M Rice
**Wilbur M. Rice (1909–1974)** was an American artist best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Active primarily between 1935 and 1942, Rice produced detailed watercolor, gouache, and graphite renderings of everyday American folk objects, tools, toys, and crafts. Thes...