Flask

Art Historical Context

**Flask** by Charles Caseau (193/1942) is a captivating rendering from the *Index of American Design*, monumental WPA-era project that employed artists during the Great Depression to document America's rich folk art and decorative traditions. Created between 1935 and 1942, this work captures the essence of a quintessential American flask—likely a humble yet elegant vessel from early craftsmanship traditions—preserving its form for future generations amid economic hardship. Caseau employed watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paperboard, a technique ideal for the Index's goal of precise, lifelike reproductions. Gouache's opacity allowed for rich, textured details, while fluid watercolors and fine graphite lines rendered subtle contours and reflections, mimicking the flask's material qualities—perhaps glass or ceramic—with remarkable fidelity. At 29.2 x 22.9 cm, the intimate scale invites close contemplation. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this piece underscores the cultural importance of everyday objects in shaping American identity. By celebrating utilitarian designs, the Index not only provided jobs for artists like Caseau but also fostered national pride in indigenous creativity, bridging art history with social history in a truly democratic endeavor.

About the Artist

Charles Caseau · 1880–1995

**Charles Caseau** (1880–?), an American artist born in Boston, Massachusetts, remains a figure whose early life and artistic training are not well documented. Known primarily for his work in illustration, painting, and design, Caseau emerged during the Great Depression era, contributing significantly to federal art initiatives that celebrated everyday American craftsmanship. Caseau's most promin...