Colcha 1935 - 1942

Majel G. Claflin created this untitled Colcha with watercolor and graphite on paper. Claflin’s vibrant design references the Spanish Colonial embroidery tradition of colcha, which involves using wool threads on loosely woven fabric. Claflin, who studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, was commissioned by the Index of American Design, a program established in 1935 by the Works Progress Administration. The Index employed artists to record examples of American material culture and decorative arts. In the context of the Great Depression, the Index sought to provide work for artists, preserve the national heritage, and encourage contemporary design based on historical precedents. By creating simplified, decontextualized images, the Index effectively transformed regional and ethnic art forms into a national style. To fully understand Claflin's design, and the motives behind its creation, one could consult the archives of the WPA, or other primary source documents relating to the Index of American Design.