Rocking Chair, Small, Child's

Art Historical Context

In the heart of the Great Depression, artist Tulita Westfall captured gentle curves and sturdy charm of a *Rocking Chair, Small, Child's in 1937. This delicate rendering, executed in watercolor, colored pencil, graphite on paper (34.9 x 26.5 cm), faithfully documents an original object measuring 28 inches tall and16 inches wide. Part of the National Gallery of Art's esteemed Index of American Design collection it invites visitors to appreciate the unassuming beauty of everyday American craftsmanship. The Index of American Design, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) initiative from 1935 to 1942, employed artists like Westfall to create precise, colorful studies of the nation's folk art and design heritage. These works preserved cultural artifacts at risk of being lost, celebrating regional traditions and the ingenuity of makers. Westfall's piece, from the CG-W department, highlights the functional elegance of a child's rocker—likely a beloved household item evoking family warmth and simpler times. Through her masterful use of mixed media, Westfall achieved vivid hues and intricate lines, rendering the chair's form with museum-quality accuracy. This artwork not only showcases Depression-era artistic skill but also underscores the cultural value of ordinary objects in shaping American identity.