Wooden Stirrup
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.8 x 26.7 cm (14 1/8 x 10 1/2 in.) Original IAD Object: 5 1/2" long; 5 1/4" high; 4 1/2" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.14723
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Wooden Stirrup*, meticulous 1938 rendering by artist Florence Hastings, capturing the humble yet essential form of an American folk craft object. Measuring 35.8 x 26.7 cm, this watercolor, graphite, and pencil work on paper depicts a sturdy wooden stirrup—originally 5 1/2 inches long, 5 1/4 inches high, and 4 1/2 inches wide evokes the practical ingenuity of early American life, likely tied to equestrian traditions on farms, ranches, or frontier trails. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–194...