Coverlet

Art Historical Context

Behold the vibrant *Coverlet*, a meticulously rendered design by Dorothy Posten around 1936, part of the esteemed Index of American Design at the National Gallery of Art This gouache, watercolor, and graphite work on paper captures the intricate patterns of a traditional American coverlet—originally a generous 90½-inch square bedcovering—scaled to 51.2 x 48.2 cm for precise documentation. Posten's rendering preserves the bold motifs and woven textures of folk textile traditions, evoking the craftsmanship of early American homes. Created during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art P...

About the Artist

Dorothy Posten

Dorothy Posten was an American artist active during the mid-1930s, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935, this ambitious endeavor employed artists across the United States to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and decorative traditions through detailed render...