Whiskey Glass

Art Historical Context

Behold the elegant simplicity of *Whiskey Glass*, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Chris Makrenos, created around 1941. Measuring 24.5 x 34.7 cm, this delicate work on paper captures the subtle curves and crystalline sheen of an everyday American drinking vessel, transforming it into a study of form and function. As part of the Index of American Design—a monumental WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s and early 1940s—this piece exemplifies the era's effort to document and celebrate the nation's folk art and decorative traditions amid the Great Depression. Artists like Makrenos meticulously rendered ordinary objects, from glassware to quilts, preserving cultural heritage through precise, luminous watercolors enhanced by graphite details. The whiskey glass, with its timeless appeal, reflects mid-20th-century American craftsmanship and the social rituals of leisure. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, *Whiskey Glass* invites us to appreciate the artistry in the mundane, reminding visitors of how design shapes daily life. Next time you raise a glass, ponder the quiet beauty Makrenos immortalized.

About the Artist

Chris Makrenos · 1855–present

Chris Makrenos was an American artist active in the mid-twentieth century who contributed a substantial body of work to the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal project that documented American folk art and decorative culture through meticulous watercolor illustration. His works are held in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and span a wide range of subjects drawn from ...