Card Table

Art Historical Context

**Card Table** by Louis Annino (c 1936) is a captivating rendering from the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project launched during the Great Depression. This initiative employed artists across the U.S. to document everyday American objects, preserving the nation's folk art and craftsmanship through vivid, precise illustrations. Annino's work captures a classic card table—measuring about 29½ inches high, 36 inches long, 18 inches deep when—highlighting its elegant form and functionality as a piece of period furniture likely from America's early decorative arts tradition. Rendered in watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard (29.9 × 22.9 cm), the piece showcases Annino's masterful mixed-media technique. These materials allowed for rich color saturation, fine details in wood grain and hardware, and a lifelike quality that bridges art and documentation. Gouache's opacity adds depth to shadows, while colored pencil refines intricate edges, making the table appear almost tangible. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this artwork underscores the cultural importance of gaming furniture in American social life, evoking evenings of cards and conversation. As part of the Index, it celebrates regional craftsmanship, offering modern viewers a window into our shared design heritage. (198 words)