Doll c. 1936

Melita Hofmann created this sketch, "Doll," on paper sometime during her lifetime (1907-1976). Hofmann was part of the Index of American Design, a WPA program that sought to document American material culture. What strikes me about this doll and its array of outfits is how it speaks to notions of domesticity, fashion, and the representation of women. Dolls have long been cultural tools, teaching children about gender roles and social expectations. We see a figure on the left with a modern twenties look, juxtaposed with a doll in a long, traditional dress with a bonnet. Hofmann develops alternative narratives by including the different outfits, thereby giving the doll agency. The sketch also offers insight into the labor and care involved in creating and maintaining these objects. This artwork underscores the intimate connection between personal identity, material culture, and the construction of social norms. The doll is a tangible representation of cultural values which evokes both nostalgia and critical reflection.