10.1 Roosevelt's New Deal and Its Art Programs

Roosevelt's New Deal sparked a cultural revolution through federal art programs. The Works Progress Administration and Federal Art Project employed thousands of artists, creating public art and promoting art education during the Great Depression.

These initiatives transformed American art, popularizing styles like muralism and social realism. They democratized art, making it accessible to all and shifting patronage from private to public funding, forever changing the artistic landscape.

New Deal Art Programs

Federal Employment Programs for Artists

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• Works Progress Administration (WPA) provided employment for millions of Americans during the Great Depression
  • Largest and most comprehensive New Deal agency
  • Employed artists, writers, musicians, and actors
  • Operated from 1935 to 1943
• Federal Art Project (FAP) operated under the WPA from 1935 to 1943
  • Employed over 10,000 artists
  • Produced over 200,000 works of art
  • Focused on creating public art and promoting art education
• Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) was the first federal art program
  • Ran from December 1933 to June 1934
  • Employed 3,749 artists
  • Produced 15,663 works of art

Treasury Department Art Initiatives

• Section of Painting and Sculpture established in 1934
  • Later renamed to Treasury Section of Fine Arts in 1938
  • Operated independently from the WPA
  • Commissioned artists to create high-quality works for federal buildings
  • Used a competitive selection process for artists
• Treasury Section of Fine Arts continued the work of the Section of Painting and Sculpture
  • Focused on decorating public buildings and spaces
  • Emphasized artistic quality over artist relief
  • Operated until 1943

Art Styles and Movements

Dominant Artistic Approaches

• Muralism emerged as a significant art form during the New Deal era
  • Large-scale paintings on walls or ceilings of public buildings
  • Depicted historical events, social issues, and American life
  • Influenced by Mexican muralists (Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco)
• Social Realism focused on depicting the everyday lives of working-class Americans
  • Highlighted social and economic issues of the Great Depression
  • Often portrayed laborers, farmers, and urban scenes
  • Artists included Ben Shahn and Philip Evergood
• American Scene painting captured regional and local subjects
  • Divided into two main branches: Regionalism and Social Realism
  • Regionalism focused on rural, small-town America (Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton)
  • Emphasized American values and traditions

Historical Context

Great Depression and Political Response

• Great Depression began with the stock market crash of 1929
  • Resulted in widespread unemployment and economic hardship
  • Lasted throughout the 1930s
  • Prompted government intervention in various sectors, including the arts
• Franklin D. Roosevelt elected president in 1932
  • Implemented the New Deal, a series of programs to provide relief, recovery, and reform
  • Believed in the importance of art in society and its role in economic recovery
  • Supported the creation of federal art programs

Cultural and Artistic Developments

• Cultural democracy promoted the idea that art should be accessible to all
  • Emphasized the importance of art in public spaces
  • Encouraged participation in artistic activities across social classes
  • Aimed to democratize art creation and appreciation
• Art patronage shifted from private to public funding during this period
  • Government became the primary patron of the arts
  • Allowed artists to continue working during economic hardship
  • Changed the relationship between artists and their audience

Public Engagement

Accessibility and Education Initiatives

• Public art became a central focus of New Deal art programs
  • Murals, sculptures, and paintings installed in public buildings (post offices, schools, libraries)
  • Made art accessible to people in both urban and rural areas
  • Often depicted local history, industries, or cultural themes
• Community Art Centers established across the country
  • Provided art education and exhibition spaces
  • Offered classes in various artistic disciplines
  • Reached underserved communities and promoted art appreciation
• Index of American Design documented American material culture
  • Created over 18,000 watercolor renderings of American decorative arts
  • Preserved visual record of American crafts and folk art
  • Employed artists to create detailed illustrations of objects