Canteen

Art Historical Context

**Canteen** by Harold Smith (1935/1942) is a captivating rendering from the Index of American Design, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project that documented America's rich folk art and craft traditions during the Great Depression. Created between 1935 and 1942, this precise depiction captures a utilitarian canteen—likely an everyday object turned artifact—highlighting the ingenuity of American craftsmanship in an era of economic hardship and cultural preservation efforts. Smith employed watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper techniques ideal for the Index's goal of vivid, accurate reproductio...