74: OIL ON JUTE OR HEMP BURLAP ATTRIBUTED AS KANSAS WPA

An untitled depiction of a Kansas Madonna (Circa 1930s.)
The unsigned oil on coarse canvas woven from jute or hemp with blue stripe, the lower stretcher is lettered 'Kansas Arts Project, WPA APA Topeka 1936 - 502' in ink, the application of the ink is neither ball point or felt tip pen, the flow has the look of a fountain pen.

Burlap of this type came in rolls that were approximately 22 inches wide and had a simple blue line of varying pattern incorporated in the weave. The material was used to make burlap bags and the pattern of the blue line helped to identify one farmer's product from another at grist mills and markets.
Canvas measures 27 x 17.5 with a framed size of 32 x 22.5 inches.
Very good condition, noting overpaint of the child's hair and an area of overpaint lower right bottom edge. There are no issues of damage, repair or other inpainting.
$300 - $600