Dove Decoy 1935 - 1942

This lovely, if slightly austere, dove decoy was made by an anonymous artist, date unknown. I think about how an artist can take something functional, like a decoy, and imbue it with a kind of quiet presence. Look at the way the simple form is rendered with such care. The artist has used a limited palette of warm browns and tans, giving the dove a sense of earthy authenticity, and the surface has this lovely matte finish, almost like it's been rubbed down over time. And there's something so satisfying about the way the artist has suggested the texture of the feathers with these subtle, almost carved lines along the tail. It's this attention to detail, this commitment to the process, that elevates the decoy from mere object to something more akin to folk art. It reminds me a little of the work of Joseph Cornell, who was similarly interested in transforming the mundane into something magical.