Mug c. 1936

Samuel O. Klein made this watercolor and graphite drawing of a mug, sometime in the mid-20th century. This image is part of the Index of American Design, a project of the Works Progress Administration, or WPA, during the Great Depression. The IAD was a massive initiative to document American decorative arts and folk art objects. The project put unemployed artists to work creating detailed renderings of objects ranging from furniture to textiles to ceramics. This mug, with its simple form and floral decoration, is a typical example of the kinds of everyday objects that the IAD sought to preserve through documentation. These images provide insight into the material culture of the time, revealing the aesthetic values and design trends that shaped domestic life. By studying these images and the records associated with them, historians can gain a deeper understanding of the social, economic, and cultural forces that shaped American identity during this period. The IAD is a reminder of the public role of art, especially in times of economic hardship.