Tavern Sign
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.5 x 22.9 cm (12 x 9 in.) Original IAD Object: 40" wide; 44" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.14966
Art Historical Context
Samuel Fineman's *Tavern Sign* (1935/1942) is a vibrant watercolor, graphite, and gouache rendering on paper, capturing the of early American folk art. Measuring 30.5 x 22.9 cm (12 x 9 in.), this delicate work documents a larger original tavern sign—40 inches wide by 44 inches—showcasing Fineman's meticulous skill in translating three-dimensional folk objects into, colorful illustrations. Created as part of the Federal Art's Index of American DesignIAD), a WPA initiative during the Great Depression, the artwork reflects a national effort to catalog and celebrate everyday American craftsmanshi...
About the Artist
Samuel Fineman
Samuel Fineman was an American artist active during the late 1930s, best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create watercolor renderings of everyday folk art, crafts, and decorative objects, capturing the essence of Ame...