Rocking Chair

Art Historical Context

Behold the meticulously rendered *Rocking Chair* by Edward A. Darby, created between 1935 and 1942 as part of the Index of American Design. This watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite work on paperboard (30.4 x 24.1 cm) captures the essence of a classic American folk furniture piece—originally 37 inches high and 20 inches wide—evoking the simple comforts of colonial and early American homes. Darby's precise depiction highlights the chair's graceful curves, sturdy rockers, and woven seat, celebrating everyday craftsmanship that defined American life. Produced under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, the Index of American Design employed artists like Darby to document over 18,000 objects, preserving vanishing traditions of U.S. decorative arts. This rendering underscores the cultural importance of humble designs, blending functionality with folk artistry and reflecting regional woodworking heritage, possibly from New England or the South. At the National Gallery of Art, this piece invites visitors to appreciate how such projects not only provided jobs for artists but also fostered national pride in indigenous creativity, bridging past and present through Darby's skilled mixed-media technique.