Doll - "Leta"
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 50.8 x 38 cm (20 x 14 15/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 28" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16663
Art Historical Context
Behold the captivating rendering of *Doll - "Leta"*, created around 1938 by artist Eugene Croe as part of the Index of American Design (IAD). This WPA-era Federal Art Project commissioned talented artists like Croe to meticulously document everyday American folk art and crafts, preserving cultural treasures amid the Great Depression. Croe's watercolor, graphite, and pen-and-ink depiction on paperboard (50.8 x 38 cm) captures the essence of a 28-inch-high doll, transforming a humble plaything into a symbol of vernacular creativity. The mixed-media technique shines here: soft watercolors lend l...
About the Artist
Eugene Croe
Eugene Croe (c. 1875–1953) was an American artist whose career is primarily documented through his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the 1930s and 1940s. This ambitious initiative commissioned artists to create precise illustrations of American folk art, decorative arts, and everyday objects, preserving a visua...