Shaker Basket

Art Historical Context

**Shaker Basket** by Alfred H. Smith created between 1935 and 1942, is a exquisite rendering from the Index of American Design, a Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. ambitious initiative employed artists across the U.S. to document everyday American folk art and crafts through precise, colorful illustrations, preserving cultural heritage at a time of economic hardship. Smith's watercolor and graphite on paper captures the understated elegance of Shaker craftsmanship, a testament to the sect's 19th-century communities known for their communal living and commitment to simplicity and utility. The Shaker basket, depicted in meticulous detail on this 21.7 x 28.4 cm sheet, exemplifies the group's design philosophy: "Shakerliness" emphasized functional beauty, with smooth lines, sturdy weaves, and no unnecessary ornamentation. Watercolor brings vibrant warmth to the natural materials, while graphite adds fine lines for texture and form, highlighting the basket's woven patterns and subtle curves. This medium choice allowed artists like Smith to faithfully reproduce three-dimensional objects in two dimensions, making intricate handcrafts accessible to wider audiences. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this work not only celebrates Shaker innovation—influencing modern design—but also underscores the Index's role in valuing vernacular art. Visitors today can appreciate how Smith's skilled hand bridges past ingenuity with enduring American identity.

About the Artist

Alfred H. Smith · 1855–present

Alfred H. Smith was an American artist active from around 1935 to 1953, best known for his meticulous watercolor and graphite drawings documenting American folk and decorative arts. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain sparsely documented beyond his contributions to federal art initiatives. During the Great Depression, Smith participated in the In...