Cup - "State House, Hartford"
c. 1936
Medium
black and white photograph
Dimensions
overall: 20.3 x 25.4 cm (8 x 10 in.) Original IAD Object: 3 5/8" in diameter; 2 1/2" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17907
Art Historical Context
Behold the elegant "Cup - 'State House, Hartford a black-and-white photograph captured around 1936 by Helmut Hi. This crisp 8 x 10-inch image meticulously documents a modest yet charming ceramic cup, measuring just 3⅝ inches in diameter and2½ inches high. The cup's design proudly features the iconic Connecticut State House, a symbol of early American civic pride, rendered with fine detail that highlights its historical motifs and craftsmanship. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the G...
About the Artist
Helmut Hiatt
Helmut Hiatt was an American photographer active in the mid-1930s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a monumental Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious New Deal initiative sought to document and celebrate the nation's folk arts and crafts through detailed renderings and photographs, capturing the essence of everyday Americ...