Rattle (Matraca)

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite rendering *Rattle (Matraca)*, created by William Kieckhofel in 1941, we see a meticulously detailed depiction of a traditional wooden noisemaker. Standing about 2 feet high with a square base measuring 6 inches on each side, the original object features four paneled sides that likely rotate to produce a distinctive rattling sound. Kieckhofel's precise technique captures the folk craft's rustic textures, bold colors, and functional form, highlighting its role as both a playful toy and a ritual instrument. This artwork is part of the *Index of American Design*, a groundbreaking Works Progress Administration (WPA) project from the late 1930s to early 1940s. During the Great Depression, over 200 artists like Kieckhofel documented thousands of American folk objects— from quilts to tools—through accurate, colorful illustrations. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, these works preserved vanishing crafts, celebrating the ingenuity of everyday American and immigrant traditions. The *matraca*, common in Latin American and Spanish cultures, was often used during Holy Week processions to replace bells in somber rituals. Kieckhofel's sheet (35.5 x 26.6 cm) invites us to appreciate how such humble objects embody cultural heritage, bridging art, history, and community life.

About the Artist

William Kieckhofel · 1855–present

William Kieckhofel was an American artist active in the 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, the ambitious New Deal-era documentation project administered under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration. Working in watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper, Kieckhofel produced meticulous renderings of American decorativ...