Bookcase

Art Historical Context

Henry Meyers' *Bookcase* (1935/1942) is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring 14 x 11 inches. Created during the Great Depression era, this work exemplifies the meticulous draftsmanship of the Index of American Design, a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project that employed artists to document everyday American objects, furniture, and crafts. Meyers, one of many skilled contributors, captured the elegant lines and proportions of this bookcase, highlighting its functional beauty as a piece of vernacular design. The Index, spanning 1935 to 1942, produced over 15,000 such detailed studies to preserve the nation's artistic heritage amid economic hardship. By blending precise graphite underdrawings with vibrant watercolor washes, Meyers not only recorded the book's physical form but also evoked its material textures—likely wood grains and subtle shadows—bringing historical furniture to life for future generations. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this piece underscores the cultural value of ordinary household items as expressions of American ingenuity and craftsmanship. Today, *Bookcase* invites visitors to appreciate how federal initiatives like the Index championed art as a tool for education and employment, bridging fine art with the democratic spirit of design.

About the Artist

Henry Meyers · 1855–present

Henry Meyers was an American artist active during the 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a monumental Works Progress Administration (WPA) project that sought to document the nation's rich heritage of folk art, crafts, and decorative objects. Operating under the Federal Art Project, Meyers produced precise, watercolor and graphite renderings of ...