Drawing for Plate 13: From the Portfolio "Folk Art of Rural Pennsylvania"

American 20th Century

National Gallery of Art

This image features an abstract composition with bold and symmetrical shapes. At the center, there is a large, circular form with a pinwheel-like pattern, consisting of alternating blue and red triangles, bordered with blue spikes. Below this shape, a stylized heart in red is connected via a stem, which branches out into curling, brown tendrils. To either side of the main circle, there are two blossoming shapes, each with a yellow body and red tips. At the ends of the tendrils, smaller circular motifs mirror the central design, with colorful segments inside. The entire design conjures the aesthetic of traditional folk art and resembles a decorative motif possibly found on historic furniture or fabric.