Candlestick
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28 x 22.8 cm (11 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11260
Art Historical Context
Dorothy Posten's *Candlestick* (c. 1937) is a captivating watercolor and gouache rendering from the Index of American Design, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project initiative (1935–1942). During the Great Depression, this program employed artists across the U.S. to document everyday American objects—from folk art to crafts—creating a visual archive that celebrated the nation's design heritage. Posten, one of over 400 contributors, meticulously captured the form and details of a historic candlestick, preserving its cultural essence for future generations. Rendered on paperboard in vibrant waterco...
About the Artist
Dorothy Posten
Dorothy Posten was an American artist active during the mid-1930s, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935, this ambitious endeavor employed artists across the United States to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and decorative traditions through detailed render...