Materials from Quilt
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28 x 23 cm (11 x 9 1/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.986
Art Historical Context
**Materials from Quilt** by Dorothy Posten, created around 1936, captures the intricate textures and vibrant patterns of quilt fabrics in a meticulous rendering. Using watercolor, gouache, graphite on paperboard, 28 x 23 cm work showcases Posten's skill in translating everyday American crafts into precise, colorful studies. The mixed media allowed for luminous washes of watercolor, the opacity of gouache for bold accents, and fine graphite lines for sharp details, evoking the quality of patchwork textiles. This artwork is part of the *Index of American Design*, a landmark WPA Federal Art Proj...
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...