Woman's Side Saddle

Art Historical Context

**Woman's Side Saddle** by Lyman Young (c.1936) captures the elegant craftsmanship of an American equestrian accessory designed for women riders. Rendered in watercolor, pen and ink, and graphite on (27.7 x 32.5 cm), this detailed study showcases the saddle's ornate leatherwork, stitching, and functional form, evoking the grace and tradition of 19th-century horsemanship. Created as part of the *Index of American Design*, New Deal-era Federal Art Project (1935–1942), Young's work documents everyday objects of cultural significance. Sponsored by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, the Index employed artists to produce over 15,000 watercolor renderings of American folk art and design, preserving a visual record of the nation's heritage before many artifacts deteriorated or vanished. This piece highlights the saddle's role in women's equestrian culture, blending utility with decorative flair. Young's precise techniques—vibrant watercolors for texture, fine ink lines for contours, and graphite for subtle shading—exemplify the Index's commitment to accuracy and artistry. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it invites visitors to appreciate how such designs reflected American ingenuity and social customs.