Eagle
1935/1942
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 29.3 x 23.2 cm (11 9/16 x 9 1/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9817
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Eagle*, a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard by Bernard Westott, created between 1935 and 1942. Measuring 29.3 x 23.2 cm, this work is a gem from the Index of American Design, a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA During the Great Depression, like Westmacott were commissioned to document America's rich folk art and decorative traditions through precise, watercolor-tinted renderings—though this piece shines in its detailed graphite lines, capturing the eagle's form with scientific accuracy and artistic grace. The eagle, a ...