Shaving Stand

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Shaving Stand*, a gouache and graphite rendering by Joseph Cannella, created around 1941. This detailed depiction captures an elegant American antique—a functional yet ornate piece of furniture likely used for grooming rituals in early households. Measuring 21 5/16 x 18 11/16 inches, the work showcases Cannella's skillful use of gouache, an opaque watercolor medium prized for its rich, matte colors and precision, layered with fine graphite lines to highlight intricate carvings, veneers, and hardware. As part of the Index of American Design, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s and early 1940s, this artwork served a vital cultural mission. During the Great Depression, artists like Cannella documented everyday American folk art and design objects, preserving their forms before time or wear could erase them. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it celebrates the craftsmanship of colonial or Federal-era makers, blending utility with decorative flair. Today, *Shaving Stand* invites us to appreciate how such humble domestic items embodied American ingenuity and aesthetic sensibility, bridging past and present in a single, vivid sheet.