Eye Bolt 1938

Clarence Secor made this watercolor called ‘Eye Bolt’ as part of the Index of American Design, a WPA project active from 1935-1942. The Index of American Design was created to record and preserve examples of American material culture. The images and objects produced at this time documented American crafts and decorative arts from the colonial period through the 19th century. As you can see here, Secor’s work depicts a humble, functional object, elevated to the status of fine art through careful rendering. This focus on vernacular objects reflected a broader interest in American identity and cultural heritage during the Great Depression. The Index was a tool for understanding a shared cultural heritage, as well as a source of inspiration for contemporary designers and manufacturers. By studying archives and collections, and with a close attention to historical context, we can understand how projects like the Index of American Design shaped national narratives.