Chest (Front View)

Art Historical Context

Behold Lawrence Flynn's *Chest (Front View)* (c. 1936), a meticulous rendering capturing the elegant front of an American chest measuring 48¼ inches long, 19 inches wide, and 32½ inches high. Created with watercolor, gouache, pen, and ink on paperboard (24.5 × 35.4 cm), this work exemplifies the precision of Flynn's hand in documenting the chest's intricate details—from its carved motifs to its rich patina—evoking the craftsmanship of early American furniture makers. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project launched in 1935 amid the Great Depression. Employing over 400 artists nationwide, the IAD produced more than 15,000 watercolor renderings of everyday American objects, from folk art to industrial designs, to celebrate and preserve the nation's cultural heritage. Flynn's contribution highlights regional decorative traditions, blending artistic skill with documentary accuracy. The mixed-media technique—opaque gouache for bold colors, translucent watercolor for depth, and fine ink lines for definition—brings the chest vividly to life, making it a vital record of vanishing artisanal techniques. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it invites visitors to appreciate how 20th-century artists safeguarded America's design legacy for future generations.

About the Artist

Lawrence Flynn · 1900–1973

Lawrence Flynn (1900–1973) was an American artist born in New Haven, Connecticut, where he attended the city's public schools. He pursued formal art training at the Art Students League in New York, studying anatomy under the renowned instructor George B. Bridgman, whose anatomical teachings profoundly influenced generations of artists. Flynn also honed his skills at the Yale School of Fine Arts, t...