Cream Pitcher

Art Historical Context

This delicate rendering of a cream pitcher by Thomas Holloway, created 1937, belongs to the Index of American Design, a Works Progress Administration project that documented American decorative arts during the Great Depression. The initiative aimed to preserve the nation’s craft heritage by recording everyday objects that embodied regional traditions and skilled handwork, ensuring their designs would not be lost to time. Holloway employed watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard to achieve remarkable accuracy, with the pitcher depicted at its actual size. This precise technique allowed for faithful reproduction of form, texture, and subtle color variations, turning a simple utilitarian item into a lasting visual record. Such works highlight the quiet beauty found in functional household objects from earlier American eras. Today, this piece invites viewers to appreciate both the original craftsmanship of the pitcher and the careful artistry of its documentation, bridging past and present through the National Gallery of Art’s collection.