Weather Vane - Horse
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 36.8 x 52.7 cm (14 1/2 x 20 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 32" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16203
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the National Gallery of's showcase of American folk art! "Weather Vane - Horse is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Sadie Berman, created around 1939. This detailed depiction captures a classic American weather vane shaped like a spirited horse, originally measuring 32 inches long Mounted atop barns and homes, these functional sculptures pointed the way of the wind while adding whimsical flair to rural landscapes. Berman's work is part of the Index of American Design, a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–1942). This initiativ...
About the Artist
Sadie Berman
Sadie Berman (1897–1994) was an American artist best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration during the late 1930s and early 1940s. This ambitious endeavor commissioned artists across the United States to create precise watercolor renderings of everyday folk art objects, preserving the nation's...