Desk
1936
Medium
pen and ink and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 23.9 x 14.4 cm (9 7/16 x 5 11/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 40"high; 30 1/2"wide; 16"deep.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4984
Art Historical Context
This delicate rendering of a desk, created by artist Frank Wenger in 193, is a standout example from the Index of American Design (IAD), a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–1942). The IAD commissioned artists across the U.S. to everyday objects of American craftsmanship through precise drawings, preserving cultural heritage amid economic hardship. Wenger's work captures the form and details of an original desk measuring 40 inches high, 30½ inches wide, and 16 deep, highlighting the functional elegance of American furniture design. Executed in pen and ink wit...
About the Artist
Frank Wenger
**Frank Wenger** (American, active c. 1935) was a meticulous artist whose precise renderings captured the elegance of traditional American furniture during the Great Depression era. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain scarce. What endures is his substantial body of work—over 50 pieces—created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Feder...