Crazy Quilt
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 55.2 x 59.3 cm (21 3/4 x 23 3/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 60" wide; 72" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2754
Art Historical Context
**Crazy Quilt**, a vibrant watercolor, graphite, and gouache by Charlotte Winter around 1938, captures the whimsical spirit of American folk art. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD)—a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA)—this detailed study documents a traditional "crazy quilt." Measuring 55.2 x 59.3 cm on paper, it faithfully reproduces an original quilt spanning 60 inches wide by 72 inches long showcasing Winter's skill in translating textile complexity into luminous color and precise linework. Crazy quilts, popular from the late 19th century, ...
About the Artist
Charlotte Winter
Charlotte Winter was an American artist who made her most lasting contribution during the late 1930s and early 1940s as a participant in the Index of American Design, a major New Deal program administered under the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project. The Index employed artists across the United States to document the nation's decorative arts heritage through meticulous watercolor ...