Rattle

Art Historical Context

**Rattle**, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by artist Michael Fenga, dates to 1935/1942 and measures 22.3 x 30.2 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), this work meticulously documents a folk art rattle originally measuring just 6 1/8 inches long. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W department, it exemplifies the IAD's mission to celebrate everyday American craftsmanship through precise, colorful depictions. During the Great Depression, the IAD was a flagship project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), employing artists to record the nation's decorative arts, tools, and folk objects before they faded into obscurity. Fenga's piece captures the rattle's form and texture with graphite's fine lines for intricate details and watercolor's vibrant hues to evoke its material warmth, highlighting regional traditions in toy-making or ceremonial items. This artwork underscores the cultural importance of preserving humble artifacts that reflect American ingenuity and heritage. By transforming a small, tactile object into a lasting visual record, Fenga invites us to appreciate the artistry in the ordinary, bridging past craftsmanship with modern appreciation.

About the Artist

Michael Fenga · 1914–1995

**Michael Fenga (1913–2006)** was an American artist best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Born around 1913, likely in New York given the project's regional focus, Fenga's early life and artistic training remain sparsely documented, with no records of specific tea...