Sofa
c. 1936
Medium
pen and ink, watercolor, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall (approximate): 19.8 x 26.9 cm (7 13/16 x 10 9/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 31"x75"x22"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5491
Art Historical Context
This delicate rendering of a sofa, created around 1936 by artist M.enshield-von-Paulin, captures the of American furniture design through pen and ink, watercolor, and graphite on paper. Measuring just under 20 x 27 cm, the drawing meticulously documents an original sofa approximately 31 x 75 x 22 inches, highlighting its form, proportions, and likely decorative details in a precise yet artistic style suited for preservation. As part of the Index of Design—a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942—this work exemplifies a national effort to record eve...
About the Artist
M. Rosenshield-von-Paulin
M. Rosenshield-von-Paulin was an American artist active around 1935, best known for their contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). During the Great Depression, this New Deal program commissioned artists to create thousands of watercolor renderings documenting American crafts, furniture, and decorative arts, prese...