The Twelve Physiographic and Industrial Regions of the National Domain: Pacific Coast
The Twelve Physiographic and Industrial Regions of the National Domain
U.S. General Services Administration
In 1933, Henry Kreis completed twelve plaster reliefs for the U.S. Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C. Each bas-relief focuses on the industrial and natural resources of a different region of the United States. Carl Paul Jennewein designed and supervised the sculptural program for the entire building, and Kreis was one of several sculptors who worked in Jennewein’s studio under his supervision.
For this relief series, Jennewein suggested that Kreis take inspiration from the façade of the Palais de la Porte Dorée in Paris, which was completed in 1931, and is decorated with elaborate carvings by sculptor Alfred Auguste Janniot that represent the French colonies. Similarly, the reliefs created by Kreis for the Justice Department highlight America’s diverse regions and resources in a series titled The Twelve Physiographic and Industrial Regions of the National Domain.
Together, these twelve panels highlight the diversity of the United States through its terrain, resources, and people. In collaboration with Jennewein, Kreis created an idyllic vision of the land as a limitless resource that fuels America’s thriving industries.
