Memorial Picture
c. 1941
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 54.2 x 45.8 cm (21 5/16 x 18 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 19 1/4" high; 15 3/4" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.12858
Art Historical Context
**Memorial Picture** by Opstad, created around 1941, is a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 54.2 x 45.8 cm. This work captures the essence of an American folk art—a poignant "Memorial Picture" originally sized at about 19¼ x 15¾ inches—through meticulous detail and subtle color washes. Opstad's technique blends the precision of graphite outlines with the luminosity of watercolor, faithfully reproducing textures and tones to evoke the original's handmade charm. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942...