Cup

Art Historical Context

This precise rendering of a simple cup, created around 1937 by Joseph Sudek, belongs to the Index of American Design. Produced with watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard, the work measures about 12 by 9 inches and documents a modest vessel just over three inches high. These illustrations formed part of a New Deal initiative under the Federal Art Project, which hired artists during the Great Depression to record America’s decorative arts and folk crafts. The Index aimed to create a lasting visual archive of objects made in the United States from colonial times through the nineteenth century—everyday items that reflected both function and craftsmanship. A small cup like this one would have been a familiar presence in American homes, and Sudek’s careful study preserves its form, proportions, and surface qualities for future generations. The project ultimately produced thousands of such renderings, now recognized as both artistic achievements and invaluable historical records. Sudek’s combination of media allowed for exceptional accuracy: graphite and ink defined contours and details, while watercolor captured color and texture. The result is more than a drawing; it is a thoughtful tribute to ordinary American design, inviting viewers to appreciate the quiet beauty of objects that once served daily life.

About the Artist

Joseph Sudek

Josef Sudek (1896–1976) was a Czech photographer widely regarded as one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century, known for his poetic, intimate images of Prague and his mastery of light. Born in Kolín, Bohemia, he lost his right arm during World War I and turned to photography during his convalescence, studying at the State School of Graphic Arts in Prague from 1922 to 1924. Sudek ...