Baptismal Font c. 1941

William Kieckhofel made this drawing of a baptismal font, likely sometime in the mid-20th century. Its careful detail speaks to the culture of documentation within art institutions. The Index of American Design, under which this drawing was produced, was a program of the WPA Federal Art Project, active during the Great Depression. Artists were employed to create detailed renderings of American decorative arts, folk art, and craft objects. The goal was to create a visual archive of American design heritage at a time when many feared that traditional skills and crafts were disappearing. It was a social project intended to give work to unemployed artists and create a record of a disappearing past. Looking at this image today, it's important to remember the social and economic context in which it was made, and to consider the politics of preserving cultural heritage during times of social upheaval. Historical records and institutional archives are important resources in understanding the cultural significance of artworks like this.