Garden Gate Latch

Art Historical Context

**Garden Gate Latch** *Maurice Van Felix, c. 1940* Graphite on paperboard Index of American Design, National Gallery of Art Step through the charming world of American folk craftsmanship with Maurice Van Felix's *Garden Gate Latch*, a meticulous graphite drawing created around 1940 as part of the Index of American Design. This ambitious WPA Federal Art Project (1935–1942) commissioned artists across the U.S. to document everyday objects, preserving the nation's rich decorative traditions amid the Great Depression. Van Felix's rendering captures the intricate metalwork of a garden gate latch—likely an 18th- or 19th-century artifact—showcasing its functional elegance and subtle ornamentation. Rendered in graphite on sturdy paperboard, the work exemplifies the Index's hallmark style: precise, almost photographic realism with fine shading and cross-hatching to convey texture and form. This technique not only highlights the latch's artisanal details but also elevates a humble hardware piece into a study of American ingenuity, blending utility with understated beauty. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art, *Garden Gate Latch* reminds us of our cultural heritage, where even the smallest objects tell stories of makers and communities long past. A delightful nod to vernacular design! (198 words)

About the Artist

Maurice Van Felix

Maurice Van Felix was born on March 16, 1889, in Łódź, Poland, and later became a prominent figure in American art circles after immigrating to the United States. His early training took place in Poland and France, where he honed his skills as a painter and etcher before settling in Brooklyn, New York, by 1919. Though details of his formal education remain sparse, Van Felix quickly established him...