Earrings
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 24.8 x 14.8 cm (9 3/4 x 5 13/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2408
Art Historical Context
**Earrings** by Isidore Steinberg, created around 1937, is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard from the Index of American Design. This ambitious WPA Federal Art Project (19351942) commissioned artists across America to meticulously document everyday objects, folk art, and crafts that embodied the nation's cultural heritage. Steinberg's precise depiction of these earrings—measuring just 24.8 x 14.8 cm—captures their intricate details, highlighting the artistry of American jewelry design during an era of economic hardship. Steinberg, a skilled illustrator, employed wat...
About the Artist
Isidore Steinberg
Isidore Steinberg was an American designer and artist active during the 1930s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project that documented the nation's decorative arts through precise watercolor and graphite renderings. Working as part of the New York City WPA Federal Art Project, Steinberg created detailed depictions of silverwar...