Quilt Patches
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, pen and ink, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.9 x 22.7 cm (11 x 8 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.989
Art Historical Context
**Quilt Patches** by Dorothy Posten, created around 1937, captures the intricate beauty of American quilt-making traditions through watercolor, pen and ink, and graphite on. Measuring just 11 x 8 15/16 inches, this work is part of the *Index of American Design*, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–1942). Posten, one of over 200 artists involved, meticulously rendered everyday objects to celebrate and preserve the nation's folk art heritage amid economic hardship. Quilts held deep cultural significance in America, symbolizing resourcefulness, community gather...
About the Artist
Dorothy Posten
Dorothy Posten was an American artist active during the mid-1930s, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935, this ambitious endeavor employed artists across the United States to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and decorative traditions through detailed render...