Dress
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 45.6 x 37.8 cm (17 15/16 x 14 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: bust: 32"; waist: 27"; sleeves: 20" inseam, 32" outseam; bodice: 14" long; skirt: 37" long, 100" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.1452
Art Historical Context
This watercolor rendering of a dress, created around 1937 by Melita Hofmann, belongs to the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era project of the Works Progress Administration. Artists were commissioned to produce highly accurate illustrations of American decorative arts, folk objects, and historic garments, creating a visual record of the nation’s material culture during the Great Depression. Hofmann employed watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard to document the garment with remarkable precision. The original dress—measuring 32 inches at the bust, 27 inches at the waist, with...
About the Artist
Melita Hofmann
Melita C. Hofmann (1907–1976) was a prolific American artist, illustrator, and author whose multifaceted career bridged fine art, historical documentation, and natural history. Born on October 13, 1907, in Toledo, Ohio, her early education reflected a strong foundation in art and design. She graduated from Toledo University and the Parsons School of Design, earning a B.A. in art education from New...