Lowboy

Art Historical Context

**Lowboy** by Charles Squires (c. 1937) is a captivating rendering of a classic American lowboy—a low chest of drawers popular in colonial households for its practicality and elegant proportions. Created in watercolor, colored pencil, gouache, and graphite on paper (22.4 x 28.2 cm), this mixed-media work meticulously captures the original object's dimensions (30 inches high, 33½ inches wide, 20¼ inches deep), highlighting its cabriole legs, serpentine front, and fine woodworking details typical of 18th-century furniture. As part of the *Index of American Design*—a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s—this piece reflects New Deal efforts to document and celebrate everyday American craftsmanship during the Great Depression. Artists like Squires produced over 15,000 such precise illustrations of folk art, furniture, and decorative objects, preserving cultural heritage for future generations. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it underscores the movement's blend of artistic skill and historical preservation. Squires' technique masterfully combines opaque gouache for rich textures with delicate watercolor washes and graphite lines for accuracy, bringing the lowboy's patina and form to life. This artwork invites visitors to appreciate how humble household items embodied regional pride and ingenuity in early America.