Shoe
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.2 x 22.7 cm (11 7/8 x 8 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9552
Art Historical Context
Hedwig Emanuel's *Shoe* (c.1936) is a watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper, measuring 30.2 x 22.7 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942—this work captures the intricate details of everyday American object with striking precision. Emanuel, one of many skilled artists employed through the project, used layered techniques to evoke the shoe's texture, form, and subtle color variations, blending graphite for fine lines, gouache for opaque highlights, and watercolor for depth. The Index aimed to document and celebrate Am...