Wine Cooler

Art Historical Context

Henry Meyers' *Wine Cooler* (c. 1936) is a vibrant rendering of an elegant American craft object, captured in watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard. Measuring 30.5 x 23 cm, this detailed drawing depicts a functional yet ornate wine cooler—originally 26 inches long, with a 16-inch-wide lid and 19 inches high—likely from the 18th or 19th century, showcasing the refined woodworking and decorative flair of early American design. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, the artwork reflects a national effort to document and celebrate everyday American crafts. From 1935 to 1942, over 15,000 such precise, colorful illustrations were produced by artists like Meyers, preserving cultural heritage amid economic hardship and highlighting regional artistry. Meyers' masterful use of layered media brings the cooler's curves, handles, and subtle embellishments to life, emphasizing texture and form with scientific accuracy. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this piece underscores the IAD's enduring legacy in bridging art history and national identity, inviting visitors to appreciate the ingenuity of America's forgotten makers.

About the Artist

Henry Meyers · 1855–present

Henry Meyers was an American artist active during the 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a monumental Works Progress Administration (WPA) project that sought to document the nation's rich heritage of folk art, crafts, and decorative objects. Operating under the Federal Art Project, Meyers produced precise, watercolor and graphite renderings of ...