Toy Warship
1935-1942
Imagine a toy so detailed it looks ready to sail across your living room floor. Frances Lichten painted this wooden ship on wheels, crewed by a regiment of tiny soldiers, with such precision you can almost hear the creaking timber. Created during the Great Depression for the WPA's Index of American Design, this wasn't just a pretty picture—it was a mission to save American folk art history. Lichten turned a simple child's plaything into a timeless document of craftsmanship.
- Technique
- Watercolor