Earrings

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 watercolor for vibrant color and graphite for fine lines, techniques ideal for the Index's goal of creating faithful, museum-quality records. These works preserved fragile or obscure items like earrings, which might otherwise fade from view, blending artistic skill with historical documentation. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this piece underscores the Index's enduring legacy: over 15,000 renderings that celebrate America's diverse creative spirit. Visitors today can appreciate how such everyday adornments reflected personal style and craftsmanship, bridging past and present in a single, elegant sketch.

About the Artist

Isidore Steinberg · 1855–present

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...