Rag Doll "Susie"

Art Historical Context

**Rag Doll "Susie" *Bertha Semple, c. 1937* color and graphite on paper 35.3 × 24.5 cm (13⅞ × 9⅝ in.) *Index of American Design, National Gallery of Art* Bertha Semple's delicate rendering of "Susie," a charming rag doll captured in watercolor and graphite on paper. Created around 1937, this artwork an original folk toy standing 15½ inches high, evoking the handmade whimsy of American domestic life. Semple's precise graphite outlines and soft watercolor washes bring Susie's stitched features and fabric form to life, highlighting the tactile appeal of such everyday objects. As part of the Index of American Design—a New Deal-era Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration—this piece preserves vanishing examples of American folk art during the Great Depression. Artists like Semple meticulously documented regional crafts, from quilts to toys, to celebrate the nation's cultural heritage and support struggling creators. Rag dolls like Susie, often sewn from scraps by mothers and grandmothers, symbolized resourcefulness and affection in rural and working-class homes. Semple's technique underscores the IAD's mission: faithful reproduction that honors both the object's humble origins and its artistic merit. Susie invites us to appreciate how simple materials fostered joy and creativity in tough times, a testament to America's enduring folk traditions.

About the Artist

Bertha Semple · 1903–1965

Bertha Semple is an artist for whom reliable biographical documentation is currently sparse. Her dates, nationality, and the details of her training have not been firmly established in the available art historical record, making it difficult to place her work within a specific school or movement with confidence. The works associated with her name suggest an artist with genuine technical engagemen...