Pearl Pin

Art Historical Context

**Pearl Pin** by Tulita Westfall, created between 1935 and 1942, is a delicate rendering of an exquisite American design object—a pearl pin—captured in watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper (28 x 23 cm). Westfall's precise draftsmanship brings to life the luster and intricate details of this jewelry piece, showcasing the elegance of everyday American craftsmanship from an earlier era. This work is part of the *Index of American Design*, a monumental Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Launched in 1935, the Index employed artists across the U.S. to document folk art, decorative objects, and vernacular design through over 15,000 watercolor renderings. Westfall's contribution preserves the cultural heritage of American material culture, highlighting how ordinary items like pins reflected regional artistry and ingenuity. The mixed-media technique—vibrant watercolors for texture and sheen, fine graphite and ink lines for accuracy—exemplifies the Index's goal of creating faithful, museum-quality records. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, *Pearl Pin* invites visitors to appreciate the unsung beauty of America's design legacy, bridging past craftsmanship with modern appreciation.