Colonial Foot Postman, 1691-1775

Little is known about the garb and practices of colonial mail carriers, and so Berta Margoulies searched the storage rooms of the Smithsonian Institution to inform her Colonial Foot Postman (1691-1775). There, she found a leather satchel that had been used to transport mail in the eighteenth century. Margoulies paired the satchel with a tricorn hat, overcoat, and leggings to complete the look of the colonial era. The artist’s brother modeled for the figure, which explains the postman’s distinctive facial features. Upon its unveiling, Margoulies was praised for the sculpture's realism and individuality as well as her ability to create detailed textures on the aluminum surface.

At 28 years old, Berta Margoulies was the youngest artist selected for a commission at the U.S. Post Office Headquarters Building. She was also one of only two women chosen for the project. Born in Poland, Margoulies’ family immigrated to Belgium and then to the United States to escape anti-semitic persecution during World War I. Margoulies studied with Edward McCartan at the Art Students League in New York City and later won the 1928 Gardner Foundation Award to study in Paris. Throughout her career, her style became increasingly abstract, although it always maintained figurative elements. Today, her work can be found in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Des Moines Art Center.