Earthenware Bowl

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 launched during the Great Depression. From 1935 to 1942, over 200 artists documented thousands of American folk, craft, and decorative objects through detailed drawings, preserving a visual record of the nation's cultural heritage before many artifacts were lost to time or wear. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, Barnett's study celebrates the anonymous makers of utilitarian earthenware—vital to colonial and early American life for storage, serving, and sustenance. Through such renderings, the IAD not only employed artists amid economic hardship but also fostered national pride in indigenous design traditions, bridging fine art with everyday craftsmanship. A testament to resilience and creativity, this bowl invites us to appreciate the artistry in the ordinary.

About the Artist

Richard Barnett · 1918–1986

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whose biographical details — including dates, nationality, and training — are not firmly established in major art-historical reference sources.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...