Doll - "Mary"

Art Historical Context

Discover the charming *Doll - "Mary"*, a meticulous watercolor and graphite rendering on paper by Josephine C Romano, created around 1939. Measuring 35.4 x 26.7 cm (13 /16 x 10 1/2 in.), this artwork the delicate details of an 8-inch-high folk doll, showcasing its form, fabrics, and features with precision and artistry. The combination of watercolor's soft hues and graphite's fine lines allows for a lifelike yet stylized portrayal, highlighting the doll's quaint, handmade charm. This piece is part of the *Index of American Design*, a landmark project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942. During the Great Depression, over 200 artists documented thousands of everyday American objects—from quilts to tools—to celebrate the nation's folk art and craft heritage. Romano's contribution preserves "Mary" as a snapshot of vernacular design, likely rooted in 19th- or early 20th-century traditions, ensuring these cultural treasures endure for future generations. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, *Doll - "Mary"* invites us to appreciate the ingenuity of American makers and the WPA artists who immortalized them. A delightful blend of documentation and creativity, it reminds us how ordinary objects hold extraordinary stories.