Quilt

Jacob Gielens

Watercolor and graphite on paperboard

National Gallery of Art

This meticulously rendered watercolor captures a traditional American quilt, created as part of the Index of American Design—a remarkable Depression-era project that employed artists to document America's decorative arts heritage. Jacob Gielens, working under the Federal Art Project, used watercolor and graphite techniques renowned for their "high fidelity to the original object" and exceptional "accuracy of color and draftsmanship." This piece represents not only the beauty of American folk craft but also a fascinating chapter in art history when the government supported artists to preserve a visual record of the nation's material culture.