Iron Cross

Art Historical Context

**Iron Cross** *Dayton Brown, 1936* Watercolor, colored pencil,ache, and graphite on, 35.5 × 26.6 cm (14 × 10 1/2 in.) *Index of American Design National Gallery of Art* by artist Dayton Brown in 1936, *Iron Cross* is a rendering from the Index of Design, a groundbreaking Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). during the Great Depression, this initiative employed artists to document America's rich folk art and design heritage through detailed drawings and photographs. Brown's work captures an iron cross—a quintessential example of early American craftsmanship—at one-third actual size, preserving its form for posterity amid economic hardship. The mixed-media technique shines here: graphite provides precise outlines, while watercolor and gouache evoke the metallic sheen and subtle patina of iron, enhanced by colored pencil for fine details. This combination allowed artists like Brown to convey texture and color faithfully, bridging utilitarian craft with artistic interpretation. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, the piece highlights the cultural significance of ironwork in American design, from cemetery markers to decorative motifs, celebrating everyday artistry that shaped national identity. A testament to resilience, it invites visitors to appreciate the beauty in functional objects from our past.