Ice Skates

Art Historical Context

**Ice Skates** by Harley Kempter, created around 1940, captures the elegant simplicity of a classic pair of American ice skates in watercolor and graphite on paperboard (38.5 x 48.6 cm). This detailed rendering showcases the skates' slender blades, sturdy leather straps, and wooden frames—practical tools for winter recreation that evoke the joy of gliding across frozen ponds. As part of the *Index of American Design*, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942, Kempter's work documents everyday American folk objects during the Great Depression. The IAD commissioned artists nationwide to produce over 18,000 precise, colorful illustrations preserving cultural artifacts, highlighting regional craftsmanship and national identity. Watercolor's translucent layers and graphite's fine lines allowed for lifelike accuracy, blending artistry with archival precision. These skates reflect early 20th-century American pastimes, rooted in Dutch and English traditions brought by settlers. Kempter's piece celebrates utilitarian design's beauty, reminding us how ordinary items embody history and community spirit. Now in the National Gallery of Art, it invites visitors to appreciate the artistry in America's vernacular heritage.