Corner Cupboard
1935/1942
Medium
pen and ink and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.8 x 22 cm (10 15/16 x 8 11/16 in.) Original IAD Object: none given
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4893
Art Historical Context
In the heart of the Great Depression, Ferdinand Cartier captured the elegance of American craftsmanship with his *Corner Cupboard* (1935/1942), a precise pen-and-ink drawing with graphite on paper, measuring 27.8 x 22 cm. As part of the Federal Art Project's Index of American Design—a WPA initiative from 1935 to 1942—this work meticulously documents a classic piece of colonial-era furniture. Corner cupboards, with their triangular form fitting snugly into room corners, were staples in 18th-century American homes, often showcasing regional woodworking traditions through carved moldings, paneled...
About the Artist
Ferdinand Cartier
Ferdinand Cartier is an artist whose historical record remains limited. No confirmed birth or death dates have been established, and his national origin and training background are not documented in surviving sources, making it difficult to place him within any specific artistic tradition or school. Cartier's presence in museum collections, with close to fifty works attributed to him, points to a...