Doll
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.5 x 22.3 cm (10 13/16 x 8 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 5" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15488
Art Historical Context
In the heart of the Great Depression, Raoul Du Bois created *Doll* around 1936 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a ambitious Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (W). This initiative employed artists across the U.S. to meticulously document everyday objects of American folk art, preserving cultural heritage through detailed watercolor renderings. Du Bois, known for his precise depictions of textiles and ceramics, captured this charming 5-inch-high dolllikely a handmade folk artifact—on paper measuring 27.5 x 22.3 cm, its whimsical form and craftsmanship. Re...