Man's Hat

Art Historical Context

**Man's Hat**, a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering by William Mills, captures the essence of American craftsmanship from the era of the Great Depression. Created between 1935 and 1942 as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project—this work meticulously documents a traditional man's hat, preserving its form, texture, and subtle details. The Index employed over 200 artists nationwide to record folk art, crafts, and everyday objects, ensuring that vanishing aspects of American material culture were immortalized for future generations. Mills's technique...