Figurehead
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 56 x 39 cm (22 1/16 x 15 3/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9747
Art Historical Context
Behold the striking *Figurehead* (1935/1942), a watercolor graphite rendering on paper by an anonymous American 20th-century, measuring 56 x 39 cm. Part of the National Gallery of's Index of American Design, this work captures the bold, carved wooden ornament from the prow of a historic sailing ship—evoking the seafaring spirit of early America. Created during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Index of American Design commissioned artists to document the nation's folk art and decorative traditions through meticulous, full-color ...
About the Artist
American 20th Century
"American 20th Century" is the designation used by major institutions such as the National Gallery of Art (NGA) for anonymous and unidentified artists active in the United States during the twentieth century. The artist's personal identity, early life, and training remain undocumented, reflecting the challenges of attribution for unattributed works from this era. No specific teachers, art schools,...