Whirligig

Art Historical Context

**Whirligig** by Isabelle De Strange, around 1937, captures the playful spirit of American folk art watercolor and graphite on paperboard This detailed rendering, measuring 56.1 x 45 cm, depicts a classic whirligig—a whimsical wind-powered toy or garden ornament popular in 19th- and early 20th-century America. handcrafted figures, often carved from wood, spun with the breeze, bringing motion and joy to rural yards and fairs. As part of the *Index of American Design*, a New Deal-era project under the Works Progress Administration (1935–1942), De Strange's work documents vanishing traditions am...