Toy School House
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 29.4 x 23.4 cm (11 9/16 x 9 3/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 10" long; 7 1/8" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15713
Art Historical Context
**Toy School House** by Raoul Du Bois, created around 1936, captures the charm of an American folk toy through meticulous watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper (29.4 x 23.4 cm). Part of the Index of American Design—a WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era—this rendering documents everyday objects as cultural treasures, preserving the nation's artistic heritage amid economic hardship. Du Bois, a skilled illustrator, renders the original toy (10 inches long, 7 1/8 inches high) with precision, blending soft watercolor washes for depth, graphite for fine lines, and gouache for ...