BY CLARK COE (1847-1919), KILLINGWORTH, CONNECTICUT, LATE 19TH CENTURY

Clark Coe (1847-1919) was born in Madison, Connecticut and eventually moved to Killingsworth, Connecticut. It is unlikely he had any formal education and he started making his figures around 1900 to amuse young family members, including a disabled nephew. He used tree trunks and branches or scrap lumber, to which he added paint, hair and clothing. His figures, which became known as the "Killingsworth Images," occupied an environment on his property that is credited with being one of the earliest documented folk environments.