Snipe Decoy 1941

This ‘Snipe Decoy’ was made by Lawrence Flynn, an American artist born in 1900, using graphite and watercolor on paper. It depicts a decoy duck used for hunting. At first glance, this image represents a simple hunting tool, yet it invites a deeper exploration of America's relationship with nature in the 20th century. The Industrial Revolution transformed the landscape and promoted a culture that valued economic development over ecological preservation. As industrialization and urbanization expanded, the growth of hunting as a recreational sport also spurred conservation movements. Wealthy sportsmen began to advocate for laws to protect wildlife and habitats in order to ensure the sustainability of their sport. The visual codes in this image, the artist's choice of medium, and the precision of his rendering invite further questions. Was Flynn interested in documenting these rapidly disappearing folk traditions? How did institutions like museums or historical societies shape public perceptions of nature and conservation? The answers to these questions can be found by examining the political and cultural history of conservation.