Ladder Back Chair
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.2 x 27.6 cm (13 7/8 x 10 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 35"high; seat 17 1/4" x 14"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4570
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Ladder Back Chair*, a meticulous 1938 rendering by Annie B. Johnston, crafted in watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and pen and ink on paper (35.2 x 27.6 cm). This detailed study captures the humble elegance of a classic American folk furniture piece—originally 35 inches high with a seat measuring 17¼ x 14 inches—showcasing its sturdy wooden frame and distinctive ladder-like slats on the back. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project from 1935 to 1942, Johnston's work documents the nation's vernacular decorative arts d...
About the Artist
Annie B. Johnston
Annie B. Johnston was an American artist active in the late 1930s, recognized for her contributions to the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal program that commissioned artists to create meticulous watercolor renderings of American folk and decorative arts objects. Working in watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and pen and ink on paper, Johnston brought technical precision and sen...