Man's Hat

Art Historical Context

**Man's Hat** by Creighton Kay-Scott created around 1937, is a charming watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 28.2 x 23 cm. This work belongs to the *Index of American Design*, landmark Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA from 1935 to 1942. During the Great Depression artists like Kay-Scott meticulously documented everyday American objects—from folk art to crafts—to celebrate and preserve the nation's cultural heritage. Kay-Scott's precise style captures the essence of vernacular design, turning a simple man's hat into a snapshot of mid-20th-century American life. The medium of watercolor and graphite was ideal for the Index's goals, blending soft, luminous color washes with fine pencil lines for accurate detail and scale. These renderings often mimicked the object's real dimensions, making them invaluable records for scholars and designers. Watercolor's transparency highlighted textures and subtle hues, evoking the hat's material qualities without the original object present. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W department, this piece underscores the Index's role in valuing ordinary items as art. It invites us to appreciate the craftsmanship of American accessories, reminding visitors of how fashion reflected identity and ingenuity in pre-World War II America. A delightful study in subtlety! (198 words)