Eagle Stern Piece
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 38.9 x 56 cm (15 5/16 x 22 1/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.14919
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Eagle Stern Piece*, captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Irving I. Smith created around 1938. Measuring 38.9 x 56 cm, this captures the majestic carved eagle adorning the stern of an American vessel—a prime example of maritime folk art from the nation's early shipbuilding era. Such stern pieces were bold decorative flourishes, symbolizing strength and national pride with their spread wings and piercing gaze, evoking the spirit of seafaring adventure. As part of the Index of American Design, a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s, Smith's drawing preser...