Quilt (1 Section)
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.6 x 25.5 cm (14 x 10 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
1943.8.309
Art Historical Context
Welcome visitors to the National Gallery of Art, where we explore the rich tapestry of American creativity. *Quilt (1 Section)* by Ruth M. Barnes, created around 1936, is a delicate watercolor, graphite, and gouache rendering on paper, measuring 14 x 10 1/16 inches. This intimate study captures the intricate patterns and vibrant hues of a traditional American quilt section, preserving its folk artistry in exquisite detail. As part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking Federal Art Project launched in 1935 under the Works Progress Administration—this work reflects the era's commitmen...
About the Artist
Ruth M. Barnes
Ruth M. Barnes (1880–1954) was an American artist best known for her meticulous watercolor renderings of traditional American folk textiles as part of the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Active during the Great Depression era from roughly 1935 to 1942, Barnes contributed dozens of detailed studies to this ambitious initiative, which em...