Child's Rocking Horse

Art Historical Context

Behold the charming *Child's Rocking Horse by Ernest A. Towers, Jr., created around 1939 as part of the Index of American Design. This rendering, measuring 35.5 x 45.8 cm, the whimsical form of a classic American toy using watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W department, it exemplifies the project's mission to document everyday objects that reflect the nation's cultural heritage. The Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, employed artists like Towers to produce meticulous studies of folk art, crafts, and designs from across America. Completed between 1935 and 1942, these works preserved vanishing traditions amid economic hardship, turning utilitarian items—like this playful rocking horse—into celebrated icons of American ingenuity and childhood nostalgia. Towers masterfully blended graphite for precise outlines, translucent watercolor for subtle hues, and opaque gouache for vibrant depth, creating a lifelike portrayal that highlights the toy's carved wood details and sturdy form. This piece not only showcases skilled draftsmanship but also evokes the joy of 19th- and early 20th-century playthings, underscoring their role in shaping American family life and folk artistry. A delightful window into our past!

About the Artist

Ernest A. Towers, Jr.

Ernest A. Towers, Jr. was an American artist active during the late 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create watercolor renderings of everyday American folk art, crafts, and decorative objec...