Materials from Quilt
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 22.3 x 28 cm (8 3/4 x 11 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.979
Art Historical Context
**Materials from Quilt** by Posten (c. 1937) invites visitors to explore the tactile world of American folk art through a precise yet vibrant rendering. Created with watercolor, gouache, graphite on paperboard, compact 22.3 x 28 cm study captures fabric swatches and patterns from a traditional quilt. Gouache's opaque richness brings depth to the textiles' colors and textures, while graphite ensure meticulous detail, evoking the handmade charm of patchwork. As part of the Index American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942—Posten's work documents everyday American ...
About the Artist
Dorothy Posten
Dorothy Posten was an American artist active during the mid-1930s, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935, this ambitious endeavor employed artists across the United States to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and decorative traditions through detailed render...