Woman's Silk Shoe
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 41.8 x 33.7 cm (16 7/16 x 13 1/4 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.1895
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate *Woman's Silk Shoe*, a captivating watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard by H Langden Brown, created 1937. Measuring 41.8 x 33.7 cm, this work captures the elegant curve and shimmering texture of a luxurious silk shoe, evoking the glamour of 1930s fashion. Brown's precise draftsmanship highlights the shoe's intricate details—from its soft folds to subtle sheentransforming a everyday object a study of refined American design. This artwork is part of the *Index of American Design*, a monumental WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–1942...
About the Artist
H. Langden Brown
H. Langden Brown (1879–1960) was an American artist best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942. This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create meticulous watercolor renderings of everyday objects, tools, vehicles, and crafts that embodied the nation's folk...