Saddle
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.1 x 37.7 cm (11 7/8 x 14 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 1/2" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16540
Art Historical Context
**Saddle** by Joe Brennan (c. 1939) is a meticulous watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 30.1 x 37.7 cm, from the National Gallery of Art Index of American Design collection Created during the Great Depression, this artwork captures the intricate details of a traditional American saddle—originally about 12½ inches long—highlighting the craftsmanship of everyday utilitarian objects that defined early American life. As part of the Federal Art under the Works Progress Administration (PA), the Index of Design (1935–2) employed artists like Brennan to document folk art, crafts, an...