Surgeon's Field Desk and Kit

Art Historical Context

Eva Perry's *Surgeon's Field Desk Kit* (c. 1941) is a meticulous watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard, capturing a portable wooden desk and medical kit essential for 19th-century American military surgeons. Measuring 35.6 x 45.6 cm, this artwork faithfully documents the original object's dimensions—17 inches high, 17½ inches wide, and 30 long—showcasing its compact design for battlefield use, complete with hinged surfaces, drawers, and compartments for instruments. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (1935–1942), Perry's piece preserves everyday American craftsmanship amid the Great Depression and early World War II. The IAD commissioned artists like Perry to produce vibrant, detailed illustrations of folk art and utilitarian objects, ensuring their legacy for future generations. Her use of layered watercolors and precise graphite lines brings out the desk's functional beauty, from grainy wood textures to brass hardware, highlighting regional woodworking traditions. This artwork not only celebrates American ingenuity in medical history but also underscores the IAD's cultural mission: to affirm national identity through design. Visitors will appreciate how Perry transforms a practical tool of war into a testament to resilience and skill.