Quilt
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 29.8 x 22.8 cm (11 3/4 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15045
Art Historical Context
George Loughridge's *Quilt* (c. 1938) is a captivating watercolor rendering from the Index of American Design, a monumental WPA Federal Art Project initiative (1935–1942) that preserved America's folk and decorative arts during the Great Depression. As one of over 15,000 detailed studies created by artists nationwide, this work documents the intricate patterns and craftsmanship of traditional American quilting, capturing a slice of everyday cultural heritage before mass production overshadowed handmade traditions. Executed in watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard, the piece masterfu...
About the Artist
George Loughridge
George Loughridge was an American artist active during the 1930s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious New Deal initiative, running from 1935 to 1943, commissioned hundreds of artists across the United States to create meticulously detailed watercolor renderings of everyday American fol...