Pie Plate c. 1938

John Matulis made this untitled watercolor of a Pie Plate, sometime in the 20th century. Its apparent simplicity belies the image's connection to a significant period in American art history. The Index of American Design was a visual archive created during the New Deal era of the 1930s and 40s in the United States. Artists were employed to document examples of American material culture, like this pie plate. The image is carefully rendered, with attention to the plate's aged patina and the folksy lettering of "1843" and "OK". The Index was part of a broader cultural project to define a distinctly American aesthetic, rooted in craft traditions and pre-industrial forms. It was intended to foster a sense of national unity during times of economic hardship and political uncertainty. Pie Plate offers a glimpse into the complex relationship between art, government, and national identity. By consulting the records of the Index of American Design, we can better understand the social and political context in which images like this were created and consumed.