Wall Paper Border

Art Historical Context

**Wall Paper Border** by Frances Lichten, created around 1937, is a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, capturing the intricate pattern of an American wallpaper border. Measuring 38 x 55.8 cm, this work meticulously documents a decorative strip originally 17 inches wide and 6½ inches high, showcasing repeating motifs typical of early 20th-century domestic design. Lichten's precise lines and subtle color washes bring to life the floral or geometric elements that would have adorned homes, evoking the charm of everyday American interiors. As part of the *Index of American Design* (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s, this piece reflects New Deal efforts to celebrate and preserve the nation's folk and decorative arts amid the Great Depression. Artists like Lichten produced over 15,000 such renderings nationwide, blending artistic skill with documentary accuracy to highlight regional craftsmanship and cultural heritage. The use of watercolor and graphite allowed for vibrant yet faithful reproductions, making ephemeral designs like this wallpaper border accessible for study and appreciation. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it underscores the IAD's enduring legacy in fostering pride in American creativity. (198 words)

About the Artist

Frances Lichten · 1855–present

Frances Lichten was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, in 1889. At fourteen she enrolled in the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art, where she studied design and interior decoration, while also pursuing landscape painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating she worked as a commercial artist for nearly a decade, building the technical foundation that would later serve...