Mahogany Cradle c. 1937

Louis Plogsted made this watercolor painting of a Mahogany Cradle sometime in the 20th century. The Image of America depicts objects mass produced for the consumer market in America. These objects reflect the tastes, styles, and materials prevalent in American homes. What are the cultural references embedded in this seemingly simple object? Mahogany, a dark, luxurious wood, signals a certain level of affluence. The cradle itself, a symbol of new life and family, speaks to core American values. This drawing preserves these values, but it is also something new. What does it mean to make art that is a representation of an object produced by commercial markets? We might consider the ways in which institutions shape our understanding of art. By studying the market for domestic goods at the time and the history of the Index of American Design, we can better understand its place in American culture.