Parade Torch
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 22.9 x 28.1 cm (9 x 11 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
1943.8.15255
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Parade Torch* by William H. Edwards, a vibrant watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard created around 1939. Measuring a compact 22.9 x 28.1 cm, this captures the intricate details of a ceremonial torch likely used in American parades,oking the pageantry of community celebrations and civic pride. As part of the Index of Design—a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression—Edwards' work meticulously documents everyday American folk objects. Launched in the 1930s, the Index employed artists nationwide to preserv...