Armchair
c. 1937
Medium
pen and ink and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 26.9 x 21.4 cm (10 9/16 x 8 7/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 130cm high, 58 cm wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4120
Art Historical Context
Frank Wenger's *Armchair* (c. 1937) is a pen and ink drawing heightened with graphite on paper, measuring 26.9 x .4 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design, this work captures the elegant lines and sturdy proportions of original armchair standing 130 cm high and58 cm wide. Wenger's precise rendering highlights the chair's functional beauty, showcasing the craftsmanship of American decorative arts through fine lines and subtle shading that emphasize wood grain, joinery, and ergonomic form. The Index of American Design was a project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during ...
About the Artist
Frank Wenger
**Frank Wenger** (American, active c. 1935) was a meticulous artist whose precise renderings captured the elegance of traditional American furniture during the Great Depression era. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain scarce. What endures is his substantial body of work—over 50 pieces—created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Feder...