Clock Reel

Art Historical Context

**Clock Reel**, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by artist Frank Eiseman from around 1938, meticulously captures the intricate details of a traditional American folk craft. Measuring 30.7 x 22.9 cm (12 1/16 x 9 in.), this work depicts an original object approximately 30 inches high and 27 inches—a humble yet elegant yarn reel, likely used for winding and measuring thread in colonial and early American households. Eiseman's precise draftsmanship highlights the reel's functional form and decorative charm, blending utility with artisanal pride. Created as of the **Index of American Design** (IAD), a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, this piece exemplifies a national effort to document and celebrate America's vernacular design heritage. From 1935 to 1942, over 200 artists produced thousands of such renderings, preserving folk arts, crafts, and everyday objects that reflected regional cultures and craftsmanship before they faded from use. The watercolor medium, combined with graphite underdrawing, allowed for vivid color accuracy and fine-line precision, making these IAD works invaluable records today. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, **Clock Reel** invites us to appreciate the ingenuity of anonymous makers and the enduring spirit of American folk tradition.