Bobcat 1935 - 1942

Editor: We are looking at Harry King's "Bobcat," created sometime between 1935 and 1942. It appears to be mixed media on wood, and it feels like a folksy representation of a bobcat’s head, almost mask-like. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Considering the timeframe, I immediately think about the socio-political context of the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. Folk art often experienced a resurgence in popularity during times of national hardship, viewed as a return to authentic, homegrown values. This carving, and its rendering in mixed media, would need further research to see if it aligns with WPA's public art initiatives. What do you think about the combination of carved wood and drawing to create this documentation? Editor: It’s interesting… the mixed media makes it feel both like an object and an image. Like a document *of* something, rather than just the thing itself. Almost like displaying folk art was becoming institutionalized, even in that period? Curator: Precisely! The act of rendering a three-dimensional object as a drawing speaks volumes. It transforms a possibly functional or ritualistic object into a static artifact suitable for observation and study. How do you see this impacting its public role or its message? Editor: So it shifts the object from being part of a living culture into a museum culture, right? Curator: Exactly. Think about who had access to such representations then, versus who created the actual carved objects. Were they displayed in urban centers far from the communities where the craft originated? Editor: That's a great question to consider. It makes me rethink the "folksy" quality I initially perceived. Thanks for offering this perspective! Curator: My pleasure. Understanding art's position within larger social and political forces helps unlock deeper meanings.