Weather Vane
c. 1938
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.8 x 22.4 cm (11 5/16 x 8 13/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16185
Art Historical Context
Behold Bernard Westmacott's *Weather Vane* (c. 1938), a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard that captures the of American folk art. Measuring 28.8 x 22.4 cm, this work hails from the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) the Great Depression. Launched in 1935, the Index employed artists nationwide to document everyday objects of American craftsmanship through detailed renderings, preserving cultural heritage amid economic hardship. Westmacott's precise graphite technique on sturdy paperboard highlights the intricate details of trad...