Candlesticks c. 1937

Marius Hansen made this watercolor painting of a pair of candlesticks. The Index of American Design, or IAD, was a New Deal project employing artists to document American decorative and folk arts. The IAD was part of the WPA, and in the 1930s, many artists had been put out of work by the Great Depression, and the New Deal programs provided work relief. Many artists who later became famous—like Jackson Pollock—were employed by the WPA. The Index was intended to create a comprehensive visual survey of American design, providing a resource for manufacturers, designers, and educators. These illustrations reflect not only artistic skill, but also a specific historical context. The IAD played a crucial role in shaping the narrative of American art and design, influencing how we understand our cultural heritage. The candlesticks in the painting were originally thirty inches high and are thus more likely to have been found in churches or public buildings than in homes. As historians, understanding the art of the New Deal requires us to delve into archives, government documents, and period publications. This helps us see the meaning of art as something dependent on social and institutional contexts.