Gold Purse
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 30.5 x 22.9 cm (12 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2140
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the National Gallery of Art's showcase of the of American Design! *Gold Purse*, a vibrant watercolor and gouache rendering by artist Ralph Morton from around 1938, captures elegance of an American craft object. Created as part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (PA) during the Great Depression, the Index employed talented artists like Morton to document everyday designs—from folk art to decorative objects—preserving America's rich material culture through meticulous illustrations. Morton's piece, measuring 30.5 x 22.9 cm on paperboard, showcases the ...