Pa. German Show Towel

Art Historical Context

Discover the vibrant "Pa. German Showel," a meticulous 1937 watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard by artist Frances. Measuring 71 x 51.9 cm, this work faithfully captures an original Pennsylvania German textile—16½ inches wide and 54 inches long—showcasing the intricate needlework traditions of German-speaking immigrants in colonial America. Lichten's delicate use of watercolor brings to life the bold colors and symmetrical patterns typical of these "show towels," which young women embroidered as displays of skill, often hung in homes to impress suitors or visitors. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, this piece preserves endangered folk art for posterity. From 1935 to 1942, artists like Lichten documented thousands of American objects through precise, colorful illustrations, blending artistic talent with historical documentation. The IAD highlighted regional crafts, ensuring cultural heritage endured amid economic hardship. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this artwork celebrates Pennsylvania German (or "Dutch") ingenuity—motifs of hearts, tulips, and birds echoing fraktur illumination and quilt designs. It invites us to appreciate how everyday crafts wove stories of community, faith, and pride into America's diverse tapestry.

About the Artist

Frances Lichten · 1855–present

Frances Lichten was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, in 1889. At fourteen she enrolled in the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art, where she studied design and interior decoration, while also pursuing landscape painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating she worked as a commercial artist for nearly a decade, building the technical foundation that would later serve...