Horse
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35 x 40.4 cm (13 3/4 x 15 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 9" high; 9" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15599
Art Historical Context
Selma Sandler's *Horse* (c. 1939) is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 35 x 40.4 cm, created as part of the Index of Design. This federal project, launched under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, employed artists to meticulously document everyday American folk art and design objects through precise, colorful drawings. Sandler's depiction captures a small carved wooden horse—originally 9 inches high long—highlighting the charm of vernacular craftsmanship from America's cultural heritage. The Index aimed to preserve and celebr...