Treasury Section of Fine Arts
The Treasury Section of Painting and Sculpture (known as the Section of Fine Arts) was created in 1934 and administered by the Procurement Division of the U.S. Treasury Department. Edward Bruce, who authored many letters throughout these exhibits, led the Section and had previously led the Treasury's Public Works of Art Project. Like the Works Progress Administration, the Section of Fine Arts aimed to ease the financial burdens of the Great Depression with its commissions. The Section was unique, however, in that its greater purpose was to provide the general public with high-quality works of art to enjoy. Commissions were awarded to artists based on quality, not need. A call for submissions or individual letters to artists were sent and artists submitted anonymous sketches. Competitions were open to all artists, regardless of economic status.
The Section awarded commissions for over 1,300 murals and 300 sculptures between 1934 and 1942. The Mexican tradition of muralism influenced the popularity of mural commissions, but Section murals deviated from that tradition because officials encourage artists subtly, and sometimes actively, not to depict social strife. Officials encouraged artists to create works that reflected local history, culture, and society. The purpose of these commissions and these works were to foster local and national pride, not to shed light on hardships that many Americans were all too familiar with. Artists were provided with guidelines and potential themes and were encouraged to visit the site to garner inspiration. Section officials tried not to interfere with the artistic process, but if Postmasters or site managers did not approve of a work's subject matter, the Section would make recommendations of changes to artists.
The Section of Fine Arts and New Deal federal art programs as a whole represent a unique time in U.S. government history. During the New Deal era, the federal government trusted and valued the work of artists to enhance the American people's quality of life. For the first time, the government strived to place fine arts in the lives of all Americans. Murals and sculptures were placed in post offices, courthouses, libraries and other public buildings. Post offices were the most popular and the most democratic. Under the Works Progress Administration, many new post offices were built to service rural areas. People from all walks of life used US post offices and were exposed to quality works of art. New Deal art programs brought fine art out of museums and placed it in front of millions of everyday Americans.