Chair

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of American design with *Chair*, a meticulous rendering by artist Clyde L. Cheney from around 1938. This intimate study, measuring 35.7 x 25.7 cm, captures the form and character of an everyday American chair through vibrant watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard. Cheney's skilled hand brings the object's curves, joints, and textures to life, transforming a humble piece of furniture into a testament to craftsmanship. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s, this work reflects the era's commitment to documenting the nation's artistic heritage amid the Great Depression. The IAD commissioned artists like Cheney to produce over 15,000 detailed plates of folk, decorative, and industrial arts, preserving objects that might otherwise fade from memory. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it highlights how ordinary items embodied regional styles and ingenuity. Cheney's mixed-media technique—layering translucent watercolors with opaque gouache and precise pencil work—ensures both artistic flair and documentary accuracy, making the chair's subtle grains and hues pop. It's a charming reminder of America's design legacy, inviting us to appreciate the beauty in the functional.

About the Artist

Clyde L. Cheney · 1895–1968

Clyde L. Cheney is an artist about whom little is currently known. No dates of birth or death have been established, and his nationality and artistic training are not documented in surviving historical records. With nearly fifty works attributed to him in institutional collections, Cheney's output points to an active career. The middle initial suggests a deliberate professional identity, but corr...