Poke Bonnet

Art Historical Context

Step into the refined world of 19th American fashion with *Poke Bonnet*, a meticulous rendering by artist Nancy Crimi around 1936. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project during the Great Depression—this graphite and colored pencil drawing on paper (30.5 x 22.7 cm) captures the elegance of a classic women's headwear. The Index employed hundreds of artists to document everyday American objects, preserving folk art and design heritage amid economic hardship. The poke bonnet, with its distinctive projecting brim framing the face, was a staple of women's attire from the early 1800s through the Victorian era. Practical for sun protection and modest coverage, these bonnets symbolized domestic femininity and were often adorned with ribbons, lace, or feathers. Crimi's precise technique—layering fine graphite lines for structure and vibrant colored pencils for texture and hue—brings the bonnet's delicate straw weave and soft contours to life, turning a utilitarian item into a study of craftsmanship. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Index of American Design collection, this work highlights how New Deal initiatives fostered artistic documentation, safeguarding cultural artifacts for future generations. It's a charming reminder of how everyday fashion wove into America's social fabric.

About the Artist

Nancy Crimi · 1916–1995

Nancy Crimi (1916–unknown) was an American artist born in Italy and raised as a U.S. citizen, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Active primarily in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Crimi documented everyday American objects, crafts, and costumes through detailed illustrations, capturing t...