Child's Cradle
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and some heightening on paper
Dimensions
overall: 22.9 x 30.5 cm (9 x 12 in.) Original IAD Object: 3'4" x 2'2"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4900
Art Historical Context
Gerald Bernhardt's *Child's Cradle*c. 1936) is a meticulous rendering from the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project that celebrated everyday American craftsmanship during the Great Depression. Created watercolor, colored pencil,, and subtle heightening on paper (22.9 x 30.5 cm), this captures the intricate details of a folk cradle originally measuring 3'4" x 2'2". Bernhardt's technique—layering translucent watercolors for depth, precise pencil lines for form, and highlights for texture—brings the wooden object's curves, joinery, and ornamentation to life, making it a faithful st...