Nuestra Senora

Art Historical Context

This 1938 rendering by Polly Duncan, titled Nuestra Senora, was created as part of the Index of American Design. A landmark New Deal project of the Federal Art Project, the Index employed artists during the Great Depression to document America's folk and decorative arts heritage through meticulous illustrations. These works preserved the appearance of countless objects, from furniture to religious sculptures, at a time when many risked being lost or forgotten. Measuring 56 by 38 centimeters, the piece combines watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and heightening on paper to depict an original object 23½ inches high, rendered at a scale of three-quarters inch to one inch. The title Nuestra Senora, meaning "Our Lady" in Spanish, indicates a traditional depiction of the Virgin Mary and reflects the rich tradition of religious folk art in America. As an example of the Index's high standards of accuracy and artistry, Duncan's work records a specific artifact while celebrating the diversity of American cultural expressions. These Depression-era drawings, now housed at the National Gallery of Art, serve as both historical documents and beautiful artworks in their own right.