Piece of Shag

Art Historical Context

"Piece of Shag" a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering by Frances Cohen, created around 1936. This intimate study, measuring just over 9 inches square, captures the textured allure of a shag fabric sample—likely a plush pile textile emblematic of American home furnishings. Cohen's precise depiction highlights the material's fluffy depth and subtle color variations, inviting viewers to appreciate the tactile qualities of everyday design. As part of the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s, this work exemplifies a national effort to document and celebrate America's folk art and craft heritage during the Great Depression. Artists like Cohen produced thousands of such meticulous renderings, preserving vanishing traditions for future generations. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it underscores the project's role in valuing utilitarian objects as cultural treasures. Cohen's technique—vibrant watercolor for hue and graphite for fine lines—brings scientific accuracy to artistic expression, blending realism with subtle artistry. This piece not only showcases shag's cozy appeal in mid-20th-century interiors but also reminds us how ordinary fabrics wove into the fabric of American identity.

About the Artist

Frances Cohen · 1912–1995

**Frances Cohen** (American, born 1912) is known primarily for her meticulous watercolor and graphite illustrations documenting American folk art as part of the Index of American Design project in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Her contributions form a significant portion of the National Gallery of Art’s holdings in this area, with twenty-four works preserved in the collection. These drawings cap...