Doll

Art Historical Context

**Doll** by Lucille Lacoursiere (c. 1939) is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 35.8 x 26.3 cm, created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD). This ambitious Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, launched in 1935 amid the Great Depression, employed artists across the U.S. to document everyday objects of American folk art and craftsmanship through precise, full-color drawings. Lacoursiere, a skilled illustrator, contributed numerous such works, preserving the charm of vernacular designs like this diminutive doll—originally just 7 7/8 inches high—for future generations. The artwork exemplifies IAD techniques: graphite for meticulous outlines and fine details, layered with watercolor to capture the doll's subtle textures, colors, and three-dimensional form on a flat surface. This method ensured scientific accuracy while highlighting artistic beauty, turning functional toys into celebrated cultural artifacts. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Index of American Design collection, **Doll** reflects 1930s efforts to affirm national identity through everyday creativity. It invites us to appreciate the ingenuity of American makers, evoking nostalgia for handmade playthings that shaped childhoods past. A testament to resilience and heritage, it reminds visitors of art's power to safeguard history.