Study for Portfolio Cover: "Folk Art of Rural Pennsylvania"

American 20th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of the cover of a book titled "Folk Art of Rural Pennsylvania". The image features a symmetrical design with two stylized birds perched on either side of a flowering plant. The birds are depicted in a folk art style, with yellow bodies, black heads, and red and brown detailing in their wings and beaks. The central flower is white with a simple form, and the leaves and stems show a repeating pattern of red shapes. The background is a neutral and subdued tone. The text above the illustration displays the title of the book. Below the image, more text details the selection and indexing of designs by the Pennsylvania Art Project under the Work Projects Administration. This indicates the book’s curation of significant folk art examples. The overall design of the cover reflects a sense of tradition and historical preservation.