This unattributed art work was done by one of the thousands of artists who participated in the Federal Art Project. Part of the Works Progress Administration, the project started in 1935.

Reading and books are two themes that appealed to many of the artists who participated in the Federal Art Project, which sponsored this image. Part of the Works Progress Administration and started in 1935, the project employed thousands of artists until its cancellation in 1943.

George Biddle, the founder of the project, said that because of the Federal Art Project, the Depression exerted, "a more invigorating effect on American art than any past event in the country's history." While times were hard, the mood of the posters was typically upbeat and the designs were bold and original and many of the artists felt free to experiment with a wide range of concepts. For American art, it was a vital period that invigorated the entire country's perception of what art could be and brought American art into the international forefront.

In addition to posters, the FAP created thousands of murals in public buildings all across the country. Artist such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, and Louise Nevelson, all left a moment of their creativity to posterity because of this program. As art historian Francis O'Connor said, "Something very vital indeed, something revolutionary happened to American culture during the 1930's."

The Library of Congress is the largest single holder of WPA posters, having over 900 in its collection.

Medium : 1 print on poster board : silkscreen, color

Created/Published : Federal Arts Project, WPA, September, 7, 1939

Creator : Unattributed

Part of the Works Progress Adminsitration Poster collection housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

Availability: Usually ships in one to two weeks

Product #: cph3f0553