Mask c. 1939

This is Harry King's watercolor drawing, "Mask." King worked as an artist for the Public Works of Art Project, or PWAP, in the 1930s and early 40s. New Deal programs like the PWAP were designed to support artists during the Great Depression. The PWAP aimed to celebrate the American scene, depicting everyday life and regional character. King's choice to paint a mask might seem at odds with this mission. Is it a commentary on the artifice of society? Or perhaps it's a reflection on the ways individuals adopt different personas. The mask itself, with its stylized features and ambiguous expression, invites multiple interpretations. We could consider how King's artistic training shaped his approach to this subject. How did his institutional experience impact his choice of subject matter, technique, and style? To understand King's work more fully, we can consult archives, period publications, and the records of New Deal art programs. By situating art within its historical and institutional context, we gain a richer understanding of its meaning and significance.