Toy Noah's Ark
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 38.4 x 51 cm (15 1/8 x 20 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 10" long, 3" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15690
Art Historical Context
**Toy Noah's Ark** by Chris Makrenos, around 1937, is a vibrant rendering of a charming folk art toy from America's heartland. Measuring 38.4 x 51 cm, this watercolor, graphite, and gou work on paperboard captures the details of a 10-inch-long wooden ark, complete with pairs of animals marching aboard under Noah's watchful eye. Makrenos, a skilled in the Federal Art Project, employed precise graphite underdrawing for structure, layered with gouache for rich opacity and watercolor for subtle washes, bringing the toy's handcrafted textures to life. This piece belongs to the *Index of American D...
About the Artist
Chris Makrenos
Chris Makrenos was an American artist active in the mid-twentieth century who contributed a substantial body of work to the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal project that documented American folk art and decorative culture through meticulous watercolor illustration. His works are held in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and span a wide range of subjects drawn from ...