Chest
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 27.9 x 36.9 cm (11 x 14 1/2 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 1/2"x24 1/2"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.7532
Art Historical Context
**Chest** by Margery Parish (. 1938) is a vibrant rendering of an American furniture piece, captured in watercolor, gouache, pencil, and graphite onboard (27.9 x 36.9 cm). This depiction showcases the chest's form and ornamentation with precision, highlighting the craftsmanship of traditional American design. Parish, an artist in the Federal Art Project, transformed everyday objects into celebrated art, blending technical accuracy with artistic flair. as part of the Index of American Design (IAD)—a New Deal-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) initiative from 1935–1942—this work documents...