Dancing Doll
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 36.4 x 27.5 cm (14 5/16 x 10 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 10 5/8" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15631
Art Historical Context
**Dancing Doll** by Selma Sandler, created around 1940, captures the whimsical charm of an American folk art toy in detail. This watercolor, graphite, and pen-and-ink rendering on paperboard measures 36.4 x 27.5 cm and documents delicate dancing doll standing just 10 5/8 inches high. Sandler's precise lines and vibrant washes bring to life the figure's playful form, evoking the handmade crafts of early American artisans who crafted such toys from wood, fabric, and found materials for children’s delight. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progr...