Chalkware Greyhound

Art Historical Context

Step into the charming world of American folk art with *Chalkware Greyhound*, a meticulous rendering by artist Gertrude Koch, created around 1941. This watercolor and graphite work on paperboard (27.9 x 38.2 cm) is part of the prestigious Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in the 1930s, the IAD commissioned over 15,000 detailed illustrations by talented artists like Koch to document and celebrate the nation's decorative arts heritage, preserving objects that might otherwise fade into obscurity. The subject is a classic chalkware greyhound sculpture—originally 9 inches long—crafted from molded, painted plaster, a popular, affordable folk art medium in 19th- and early 20th-century America. Koch's skilled technique captures the sculpture's glossy finish, subtle color gradients, and lifelike form with precision, blending watercolor's fluidity for hues and graphite's fine lines for contours. Greyhounds, symbols of speed and elegance, were favored motifs in chalkware, reflecting everyday decorative tastes in American homes. Displayed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W department, this piece highlights the IAD's cultural mission: bridging fine art with vernacular design during a time of economic hardship. It invites us to appreciate the ingenuity of anonymous craftsmen through Koch's expert eye, a testament to America's artistic diversity.

About the Artist

Gertrude Koch · 1855–present

Gertrude Koch was an American artist active around 1935, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a landmark Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935, this initiative employed artists across the United States to create precise watercolor renderings of everyday folk art objects, preserving a visual record of America's ve...