Cobalt Vase

Art Historical Context

Dorothy Posten's *Cobalt Vase* (c. 1936) is a captivating watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper, measuring 35.5 x 28 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s—this work meticulously documents an exquisite example of American decorative arts. Posten, a skilled artist in this ambitious initiative, captures the vase's deep cobalt blue glaze and elegant form with precision, highlighting its subtle textures and luminous highlights through layered techniques. The Index of American Design, active from 1935 to 1942, employed over 400 artists to produce more than 15,000 detailed plates preserving everyday objects, folk crafts, and historical designs amid the Great Depression. By rendering artifacts like this vase in vibrant color and fine graphite outlines, Posten not only preserved cultural heritage but also celebrated American craftsmanship, from colonial pottery to industrial designs. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it reflects a era when art served national recovery and identity. This piece invites visitors to appreciate how gouache's opacity and watercolor's fluidity combine for lifelike depth, evoking the vase's tactile allure. A testament to Depression-era ingenuity, *Cobalt Vase* bridges art and history, reminding us of the enduring beauty in everyday American design.

About the Artist

Dorothy Posten · 1855–present

Dorothy Posten was an American artist active during the mid-1930s, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935, this ambitious endeavor employed artists across the United States to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and decorative traditions through detailed render...