Rifle

Art Historical Context

Behold the meticulously rendered *Rifle* by LeRoy Robinson, created around 1937 as part of the Index of American Design. This watercolor, gouache, pen and ink and graphite drawing on paper (30.5 x 53.7 cm) the intricate details of a classic American firearm, from its polished barrel to ornate engravings, showcasing the craftsmanship of early American gunsmiths. Robinson's work belongs to the Index of American Design, a Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. in 1935, this ambitious initiative employed artists across the U.S. to document folk art, crafts, and everyday objects, preserving a visual record of the nation's material culture before it faded into obscurity. By blending scientific precision with artistic flair, these renderings celebrated regional traditions and industrial ingenuity. The mixed-media technique—layering translucent watercolors and opaque gouache with fine ink lines and graphite shading—lends a lifelike luminosity and texture, making the rifle leap off the page. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, *Rifle* highlights how design indexes like this bridged art and history, offering modern viewers a tangible connection to America's inventive spirit and frontier heritage.