Latch for Double Swing Gate
c. 1939
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 35.6 x 24.8 cm (14 x 9 3/4 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.12048
Art Historical Context
Step into the inventive world of American craftsmanship with *Latch for Double Swing Gate*, meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard by Maurice Van, created around 1939. Measuring 35.6 x 24.8 cm, this work captures the intricate details of a functional gate latch with precise lines and subtle shading, highlighting the elegance of everyday hardware design. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project launched during the Great Depression. Artists like Van Felix documented thousands of folk art objects, tools, and decorative items to preserve America's cult...
About the Artist
Maurice Van Felix
Maurice Van Felix was born on March 16, 1889, in Łódź, Poland, and later became a prominent figure in American art circles after immigrating to the United States. His early training took place in Poland and France, where he honed his skills as a painter and etcher before settling in Brooklyn, New York, by 1919. Though details of his formal education remain sparse, Van Felix quickly established him...