Coverlet

Cornelius Christoffels

Watercolor and colored pencil on paper

National Gallery of Art

This exquisite watercolor and colored pencil rendering captures the intricate beauty of a traditional American woven coverlet, meticulously documented as part of the Index of American Design project. Created by Cornelius Christoffels, a Dutch-born American artist who immigrated from Holland in 1922, this work exemplifies the WPA Federal Art Project's mission to preserve America's decorative arts heritage during the Great Depression. The drawing showcases the geometric patterns and textile craftsmanship that defined early American domestic life, offering a window into the folk traditions that shaped the nation's cultural identity.