Chalkware Cat
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 38.2 x 27.6 cm (15 1/16 x 10 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 5 1/2" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8323
Art Historical Context
**Chalkware Cat** Gertrude Koch, created around 1940, captures the whimsical charm of a small American folk art figurine—a 5½-inch-long chalkware cat in vibrant watercolor and graphite on paperboard (38.2 x 27.6 cm). Part of the National Gallery of's Index of American Design, this precise depiction preserves the playful essence of everyday decorative objects from America's past, showcasing Koch's skill in translating three-dimensional forms into luminous, detailed illustrations. The Index of American Design, Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression, employed art...
About the Artist
Gertrude Koch
Gertrude Koch was an American artist active around 1935, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a landmark Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935, this initiative employed artists across the United States to create precise watercolor renderings of everyday folk art objects, preserving a visual record of America's ve...