Woman's Slippers c. 1937

Edna Rex painted this watercolor of a woman’s slipper as part of the Federal Art Project, a government program that supported artists during the Great Depression. It’s a humble subject, a single slipper, depicted in muted tones, worn at the heel. What might these slippers tell us about the lives of women during the Depression? They were a time of economic hardship, when many women had to work to support their families, often in low-paying jobs. Consider the emotional weight these slippers might carry: The end of a long day? A symbol of domesticity? Or perhaps a reminder of dreams deferred? Rex’s choice to immortalize this simple object invites us to contemplate the quiet dignity of everyday life and the stories held within the most unassuming artifacts. This seemingly simple painting speaks volumes about resilience, identity, and the enduring spirit of women in a challenging era.