Money Vest
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 24.5 x 35.4 cm (9 5/8 x 13 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.1581
Art Historical Context
**Money Vest** by Rose Campbell-Gerke, created around 1939, is a vibrant watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring 24.5 x 35.4 cm. This delicate work captures the intricate details of a folk art garment, likely a novelty vest adorned with currency motifs—a charming example of American vernacular design that playfully symbolized prosperity during tougher economic times. As part of the *Index of American Design* (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s, this piece reflects the era's effort to document and celebrate everyday American crafts. Artists like Ca...
About the Artist
Rose Campbell-Gerke
Rose Campbell-Gerke (born 1882) was a California-born American artist who worked as a watercolorist for the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal project that systematically documented American folk and decorative arts. The National Gallery of Art holds sixty-six works by Campbell-Gerke in its collection, making her one of the more prolific individual contributors to the Index. Her bo...