Armchair c. 1936

Charles Squires made this watercolor and graphite drawing of an armchair, which shows that even everyday objects carry complex social and cultural meanings. The image depicts an armchair that is likely based on 18th-century designs. Squires created this rendering as part of the Index of American Design, a New Deal program established in the 1930s. The Index employed artists to document decorative and folk arts across the United States, especially those from the colonial era. The Index was intended to boost American morale during the Great Depression by fostering appreciation for a usable national heritage rooted in pre-industrial craftsmanship. It also helped to support artists by providing them with employment during a time of economic hardship. The Index is a fascinating resource for historians of American material culture. By studying its images, along with related documents, we can better understand the values and aspirations of a nation in crisis.