Door Knocker

Art Historical Context

Behold the exquisite *Door Knocker* by Regina Henderer, crafted around 1938 as part of the Index of American Design. This watercolor graphite rendering on paperboard (34.7 x 24.4 cm) captures the details of a humble yet iconic American household object, transforming everyday craftsmanship into a celebrated work of art. Hendrner's precise lines and vibrant hues bring the door knocker to life, its form, texture, and subtle ornamentation with museum-quality fidelity. Created during the Great Depression under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Index of American Design employed hundreds of artists like Henderer to document the nation's folk art, decorative objects, and vernacular designs. Watercolor allowed for luminous color washes that evoked the original object's patina, while graphite added fine detailing— a technique perfectly suited to preserving cultural artifacts at risk of disappearance amid economic hardship. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art, this piece underscores America's rich tradition of functional artistry, from colonial hardware to regional crafts. It invites visitors to appreciate how ordinary items embody history, ingenuity, and community pride, reminding us that beauty often hides in the details of daily life.