Women, Americana, and the Arts

The mid-twentieth-century saw more successful women artists than ever, particularly in Mid-Century Modern art and design. In fact, institutions such as  the Museum of Modern Art collected more women’s work between 1946 and 1956 than ever before (or after), signifying a brief change in the market. The art placed on board the SS United States echoed this shift. Artists Austin Purves and Hildreth Meière advised on the entire decorative scheme of the ship, and they tapped a number of notable women artists to outfit the vessel’s interiors. In addition to making art for the ship themselves, Purves and Meière consulted with their fellow artists and designers on the main themes and ideas that should be featured onboard the SS United States. Two main themes were focused on in order to create a cohesive and dynamic atmosphere: the sea and Americana.  

When traveling on board the SS United States many passengers would relay that stepping on board the ship was like stepping into a distinctly American space. Often advertised as traveling on board the American Dream, the SS United States’ interior spaces were deliberately decorated to elicit such feelings. Americana was a main theme used in the artistic display on the ship and translated American experiences into visual elements. While many associate “Americana” with stars, flags, and red, white and blue, it actually encompasses far more than these patriotic elements: While Americana does encompass patriotic elements, it is more broadly a term used to define and reflect on the charm of America’s past. Traditionally, this was associated with Folk Art, a style of art characterized as being made by everyday artisans and people rather than classically trained “artists.” By the 50’s and 60’s, the definition of Americana expanded, including prominent illustrators and artists such as Norman Rockwell and his scenes of everyday American life, and was often described as “American Nostalgia.”

On board the SS United States, artists exploring Americana themes had to conform to strict limits on materials as fireproofing was essential. Still, scenes eliciting uniquely American scenes and culture were found throughout the ship, from smoking rooms to first class suites. Hildreth Meière’s work, The Mississippi: Father of Waters, embodied this Americana theme. 

Women artists working with Americana themes give contemporary viewers a lot to think about in terms of the history of women in craft and their roles in defining Americana. The  women working on the SS United States contributed to defining “Americana,” which included expressing and and visualizing their own roles within American society. At this time, after World War II, upper middle-class women were largely being shifted back into domestic roles. While not a new role, the “Housewife” of the 50’s and 60’s was given a “facelift” in order to appeal to women who had, during war time, been thrown into the workforce. The Housewife, as it was defined by mid-century advertisements, was a woman who controlled and maintained the home… including those in it. While this offered a bit more agency to women, giving them a sense of purchasing power and decision-making when it came to household work, their ability to step outside the domestic sphere remained limited. Further, the glamorized idea of the housewife was a largely exclusive position, open mostly to white upper-middle-class women who could afford the status behind the title. Some women were able to subvert these limiting roles by using the domestic space as their canvas. The majority of women working as professional artists and designers at the time had the means to do so, financially and socially. This meant that the work being produced by women, particularly for the SS United States, would have been addressing a specific image of Americana, one which reflected the lived experiences of the artists. While it’s important to view the work commissioned for the SS United States as a product of a more privileged status, it’s equally as important to consider the innovation, excellence, and uniqueness of the work produced by these women.  

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Artists of the United States:

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