Tray Table
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 40.6 x 45.4 cm (16 x 17 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 29"high; 21"x17" (dimens. confusing on data sheet.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5738
Art Historical Context
**Tray Table**, a vibrant rendering by artist Robert Cole around 1940, captures the simplicity of an American tray table in watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard (40.6 x 45.4 cm). This meticulous depiction showcases the table's original dimensions—29 inches high a 21 x 17-inch top—highlighting its functional beauty as a versatile piece for serving or display, likely from the early 20th century. Created as part of the *Index of American Design*IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942, Cole's work documents everyday American craftsmanship. The IAD employ...