Earthenware Bowl
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 24.3 x 27.9 cm (9 9/16 x 11 in.) Original IAD Object: Bowl rendered 1/2 size
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6034
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate *Earthenware Bowl*, a meticulous watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard by artist Richard, created around 1938. Measuring 24.3 x 27.9 cm, this work captures an everyday earthenware vessel at half its actual size, showcasing the subtle textures, earthy tones, and simple forms of traditional American pottery. Barnett's precise technique highlights the bowl's humble beauty, blending soft washes of color with fine graphite lines to evoke its tactile, handcrafted quality. This piece is a gem from the Index of American Design (IAD), a landmark WPA Federal Art Project la...
About the Artist
Richard Barnett
Richard Barnett is an artist whose biographical details — including dates, nationality, and training — are not firmly established in major art-historical reference sources. The works attributed to his name have entered museum and collection contexts, but the documentary record surrounding his life and career remains sparse, making it difficult to situate him with confidence within a specific artis...