Lantern c. 1936

James Vail made this watercolor rendering of a Lantern, date unknown. Vail was among the artists employed by the Index of American Design, a division of the WPA, or Works Progress Administration, during the Great Depression. The Index was tasked with documenting American material culture. In the 1930s, many artists found themselves unemployed, and the Index offered them a chance to utilize their skills. The Index encouraged artists to develop precise rendering skills and objective observation. The goal was to create a visual archive, a testament to American ingenuity and craftsmanship. The lantern depicted here speaks to a time when light was a precious commodity, and everyday objects were crafted with care and attention to detail. Historians use archives and collections to piece together the stories of the people who made and used these objects. By studying these artifacts, we gain a deeper understanding of the values, beliefs, and social structures of the past.