Doll - "Lulu"
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.8 x 28.1 cm (14 1/8 x 11 1/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15386
Art Historical Context
**Doll - "Lulu" by Mary E. Humes (c. 1936)** Created as part of the Index of American Design, a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s, this delicate watercolor, gouache, and graphite rendering on paper captures the charm of a folk doll named "Lulu." Launched in 1935 amid the Great Depression, the Index employed artists like Mary E. Humes to meticulously document everyday American objects—from quilts to toys—preserving the nation's cultural heritage through over 15,000 vibrant illustrations. Humes' work exemplifies this mission, transforming a simple doll into a testament to ea...
About the Artist
Mary E. Humes
**Mary E. Humes (1911–2001)** was an American artist best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a landmark Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Active primarily in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Humes produced detailed watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, and gouache renderings of everyday American folk art ...