Resist Print

Art Historical Context

"Resist Print," rendered by artist Michael Trekur 1937, is a captivating watercolor and graphite depiction on paperboard, measuring 29.2 x 23 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression—this exemplifies the era's commitment to documenting and celebrating everyday American craftsmanship. Index commissioned artists nationwide to produce over 18,000 meticulous renderings of folk art, decorative objects, and design motifs, preserving cultural heritage amid economic hardship. Trekur's piece highlights a "resist print," likely a textile employing traditional resist-dyeing techniques such as batik or tie-dye, where wax or other barriers prevent dye from penetrating certain areas, creating intricate patterns. The watercolor's vibrant hues and graphite's precise lines capture the texture and color play of such folk methods, blending artistic skill with documentary accuracy. These techniques, rooted in immigrant and indigenous traditions, were vital to early American home goods and quilts. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, "Resist Print" underscores the Index's lasting legacy: fostering national pride in vernacular design while supporting artists. It invites visitors to appreciate the ingenuity of anonymous makers, bridging art history with cultural identity in a single, vivid frame.

About the Artist

Michael Trekur · 1855–present

Michael Trekur is an artist about whom very little biographical information has been firmly established by art historians. No confirmed birth or death dates are recorded, and the limited documentary trail that survives makes it difficult to reconstruct the arc of his training, career, or artistic affiliations with confidence. The works attributed to him suggest a practitioner active at some point ...