Doll
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 28.8 x 23 cm (11 5/16 x 9 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 24" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15490
Art Historical Context
**Doll**, a captivating watercolor, graphite, and gouache by Raoul Du Bois from around 1936, is a gem from the Index of American Design. This WPA Federal Art Project, launched during the Great Depression, commissioned artists to meticulously document everyday American folk art objects through plates. Du Bois, skilled in precise yet evocative depictions, captured a charming 24-inch-high doll, transforming it into a vibrant study on paper measuring 28.8 x 23 cm. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, exemplifies how art served national preservation efforts amid economic hardship. The mixed medi...