Shell Shaped Flask

Art Historical Context

**Shell Shaped Flask** by Raymond McGough, around 1940, is a captivating rendering from the *Index of American Design*, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project (1935–1942). This initiative employed artists across the U.S. meticulously document everyday American folk art, crafts, and design objects through vibrant, detailed illustrations. McGough's work captures a delicate shell-shaped flask—likely a historical vessel evoking maritime or decorative traditions—preserving its form and charm for future generations amid the Great Depression era's cultural preservation efforts. Executed in watercolor, g...