"Sea Chest", U.S. Navy
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 29 x 35.7 cm (11 7/16 x 14 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: Approx 40"long; 20"wide; 24"high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4652
Art Historical Context
Willoughby Ions's *Sea Chest, U.S. Navy* (1935/1942) is a meticulous rendering from the Index of American Design, a-era Federal Art Project that documented everyday American objects to celebrate the nation's cultural heritage during the Great Depression. Created part of this ambitious effort, the watercolor captures a utilitarian sailor's trunk—roughly 40 inches long,20 inches wide, and 24 inches high—evoking the rugged life of U.S. Navy seafarers in the early 20th century. Ions, a skilled illustrator, highlights the chest's sturdy wooden construction and nautical details, preserving a slice o...