Rocking Chair with Rawhide Seat
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, gouache and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35 cm (13 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 37 1/2"high; 18"wide. See data sheet for details.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4463
Art Historical Context
Frank M. Keane's *Rocking Chair with Raw Seat* (c. 1938) is a meticulous rendering that captures the sturdy elegance of an everyday American artifact. Created as watercolor, colored pencil,ache, and graphite on paper, this 13¾-inch-high drawing depicts a classic rocking chair with a taut rawhide seat, evoking the rustic craftsmanship of early 20th-century American homes. The original chair measured 37½ inches high and 18 inches wide highlighting its practical scale for cozy domestic use. This artwork belongs to the Index of American Design, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the Great De...