# Decoy

**Mina Lowry** (American, born Canada, 1894–1942)  
c. 1940  
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard  
overall: 29 x 35.8 cm (11 7/16 x 14 1/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 5 1/4" wide; 16" long; 7 1/2" high

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1943.8.16963. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.29054.html).

## About this work

Mina Lowry painted this in about 1940, aged 46. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

The image shows a wooden duck decoy against a plain, light-colored background. The duck is crafted in various shades of brown, black, and green with subtle highlights in lighter tones. The duck is facing to the right side of the frame, with its head slightly tilted upward.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Watercolour.** Pigment in gum arabic, thinned with water and laid in transparent washes. Nothing white is painted: the light is the paper showing through.
- **Graphite.** Pencil. Graphite has been used for drawing since the 1500s; in 1795 Nicolas-Jacques Conté mixed it with clay, so its hardness could be graded.
- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.

### [Mina Lowry](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/mina-lowry)

American, born Canada, 1894–1942

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was 46
- Real size: about 11 × 14 in (29 × 36 cm). The 11 × 14 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 20th century
- Movement: [American folk and design](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/american-folk-design)
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1451.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1451/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/decoy-nga-29054).