Chest

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 the nation's rich heritage of folk and decorative arts. The IAD commissioned over 15,000 watercolor renderings by artists nationwide to preserve regional styles amid economic hardship, ensuring cultural treasures like this chest endured for future generations. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it reflects Depression-era efforts to value American ingenuity. Parish's mixed-media technique vividly recreates the chest's textures and colors, making the ordinary extraordinary. Originally sized at 12 1/2" x 24 1/2", this piece invites visitors to appreciate how everyday furnishings embodied cultural identity, from colonial influences to regional motifs. A testament to artistic patriotism, it bridges history and beauty in the CG-W Department collection.