I recently got lost in the Wikipedia page on United States Post Office Murals. Artists in the Depression, funded by the United States government, created 1,371 murals in post offices. And wowee are they an insight into the 1930s. There’s a lot of genre paintings of agricultural scenes, industry, and very smoothed over history.
Yes I went through the whole list. These are are my favorites.
My Favorite Pieces
Like what, I’m not not going to mention the dinosaur mural in Wyoming first?
This is what I want to do in these times: dance on some squeaky wood floors. I also love the movement and closeness this scene shows. And there’s a strange, uncertain time of day vibe happening.
I had no idea about the anti-rent wars in New York until I read Dragonwyck last year. Or that there was a manor system in New York in the 19th century. (Sidenote: Dragonwyck is pretty screwed up in the best way. The end is especially smashing… I recommend it if you need some Jane Eyre-like Gothic melodrama. Plus, the film has Vincent Price and Gene Tierney, I haven’t seen it, but that seems like a winning combination.)
The masks are very good. Imagine sorting mail under this, though.
The title on this piece made me look again: Good News and Bad. I noticed the soft emotional shift from left to right. It made me remember how news once was so slow. And how I miss that.
10/10 Bears:
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Ok, so imagine going through dozens, if not hundreds, of murals with super-romanticized people labouring with pensive smiles plastered on their faces…
These two pieces from Wisconsin and Idaho stand out:
California honestly has quite a few beautiful New Deal post office murals (and some that make you seriously cringe). But this cowboy with palominos rules.
And finally, this piece is just camp af and looks like Etienne got in there decades earlier, and I love it for that. There’s even a hanky. ifykyk.
Thank you, New Deal!
Read More:
If you’re in the US find one near you via New Deal Art Registry
Off The Wall: New Deal Post Office Murals
