Chair

Art Historical Context

In the heart of the Great Depression, the Index of American Design (193–1942), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration, artists like Francis Law Durand to create renderings of everyday American objects. This pen-and-ink drawing with graphite and subtle heightening on paper captures a classic wooden chair, standing 42½ inches tall in its original form. Measuring just 27.7 x 22.8 cm, Durand's precise study preserves the chair's form, likely highlighting its craftsmanship from American folk or vernacular traditions. Durand's technique—fine pen lines for contours, graphite for shading, and heightening for luminous highlights—exemplifies the IAD's goal of documentary accuracy, blending artistic skill with anthropological insight. These works elevated humble designs to cultural artifacts, safeguarding regional styles against industrialization's tide. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art's Index of American Design collection, this "Chair" invites us to appreciate the artistry in ordinary furniture, a testament to American ingenuity and resilience during tough times.

About the Artist

Francis Law Durand · 1855–present

**Francis Law Durand (1906–1995)** Born on March 31, 1906, in Mount Holly, New Jersey, Francis Law Durand emerged as a skilled American draftsman and artist during the Great Depression era. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain sparsely documented beyond his professional output. By 1935, he was employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), ...