Comb
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 27.3 x 22.2 cm (10 3/4 x 8 3/4 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2386
Art Historical Context
**Comb**, created around 1939 by artists Daniel Marshack and Gertrude Lemberg, is a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring 27.3 x 22.2 cm. This piece captures the intricate details of an everyday American comb, transforming a humble utilitarian object into a work of art through precise lines and subtle color washes. The use of watercolor evokes texture and sheen, while graphite adds fine contours, highlighting the comb's craftsmanship—likely a folk or vernacular design from America's decorative arts tradition. As part of the *Index of American Design*, a Federal A...