Jointed Dutch Doll 1935 - 1942

Beverly Chichester made this watercolor painting of a Jointed Dutch Doll sometime in the 20th century. Chichester was part of the Index of American Design, a New Deal project, and her doll portrait reflects the project's focus on vernacular design. The Dutch doll, with its simple construction and movable limbs, was a popular toy, embodying values of domesticity and childhood innocence. But beyond nostalgia, we can also see how the IAD served a specific cultural agenda. It aimed to define a uniquely "American" aesthetic, often by looking to the past and to forms of folk art and craft traditions. These values are evident in the choice of subject, but also in the style of the painting. Chichester’s clean, precise lines and careful rendering highlight the doll's form and texture. By studying the archives of the WPA and the IAD, we can learn more about the social and political contexts that shaped art making in the United States.