Shaker Built-In Cupboard
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.6 x 25.2 cm (12 1/16 x 9 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16627
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of American folk design with *Shaker Built-In Cupboard*, a 1938 rendering by artist John W. Kelleher. as part of the Index of American Design—a Federal Art Project initiative during the Great Depression—this watercolor, graphite, and pen-and-ink drawing on paper (30.6 x 25.2 cm) captures the essence of Shaker craftsmanship. The Shakers, a 19th-century religious community were renowned for their austere, functional furniture that embodied principles of simplicity, utility, and perfection in workmanship. Kelleher's technique blends the fluidity of watercolor for subtle tones...
About the Artist
John W. Kelleher
John W. Kelleher was an American artist active from around 1935 to 1953, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project that commissioned artists to create precise watercolor renderings of everyday American folk art, crafts, and decorative objects. Little is known about Kelleher's early life or formal training, as biograp...