Carousel Horse c. 1939

Henry Murphy made this drawing of a carousel horse sometime in the 20th century with graphite on blue paper. Murphy was part of the Index of American Design, a WPA program that ran from 1935-1942. The Index employed artists to create a visual survey of American material culture. During the Depression, there was an acute interest in establishing a distinctly "American" identity. This drawing of a carousel horse offers a nostalgic look at leisure and pleasure. The drawing strips the object of its original polychromatic exuberance, instead rendering the horse in muted tones. This quiet stillness evokes a sense of loss, the loss of industry, security, and a collective optimism about the future. The drawing serves as both a historical record and a poignant reflection on the ephemeral nature of joy. This horse now stands as a symbol of a bygone era, inviting reflection on the intersection of play, memory, and national identity during times of economic hardship.