Stern Decoration

Art Historical Context

**Stern Decoration** by Jerome Hoxie (c. 1937) captures the ornate flair of American maritime folk art through delicate watercolor and graphite on paper (28.1 x 35.5 cm). Created as part of the Index of American Design—a WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942—this rendering documents a 72-inch-long original stern decoration, likely a carved wooden emblem adorning the rear of a historic vessel. Hoxie's precise technique highlights the object's intricate details, preserving endangered examples of 19th-century craftsmanship amid the Great Depression. The Index aimed to celebrate everyday American design, from quilts to ship carvings, fostering national pride in vernacular arts. Stern decorations like this one symbolized naval prowess and regional identity, often featuring eagles, scrolls, or mythical figures on whaling ships and clippers. Watercolor's luminosity paired with graphite's fine lines allowed Hoxie to convey texture and form realistically, making the functional art accessible to modern eyes. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, this work invites visitors to appreciate how everyday objects embodied cultural heritage, bridging America's seafaring past with artistic documentation. A testament to ingenuity and endurance! (198 words)