Fish Weather Vane
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 36.1 x 48.9 cm (14 3/16 x 19 1/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 35 1/4" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16194
Art Historical Context
**Fish Weather Vane** *by Sadie Berman, c.1940* *Watercolor and graphite onboard, 36.1 × 48.9 cm (14 3/16 × 19 1/4 in.)* *Index of American Design, National Gallery of* This vibrant watercolor and graphite rendering by Sadie Berman captures the whimsical form of a fish weather vane, originally measuring an impressive 35 14 inches long. Weather vanes like this one, often perched atop barns, ships, or homes, served both practical and decorative purposes in early American life, pointing the way of the wind while showcasing local craftsmanship and folklore. The fish motif evokes maritime tr...
About the Artist
Sadie Berman
Sadie Berman (1897–1994) was an American artist best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration during the late 1930s and early 1940s. This ambitious endeavor commissioned artists across the United States to create precise watercolor renderings of everyday folk art objects, preserving the nation's...