Glass Cologne Bottle
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.9 x 22.6 cm (11 3/8 x 8 7/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17124
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate *Glass Cologne Bottle*, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by artist John Dana, created around 1940. Measuring 28.9 x 22.6 cm, this work on paperboard captures the elegant curves and shimmering facets of a classic glass perfume vessel, evoking the refined artistry of American decorative objects from earlier eras. As part of the Index of American Design—a monumental WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942—this piece exemplifies a national effort to document and celebrate everyday American crafts amid the Great Depression. Hundreds of artists like Dana produce...
About the Artist
John Dana
**John Dana** (American, active c. 1935) was a meticulous draftsman whose artistic legacy is inextricably linked to the Index of American Design, a landmark Works Progress Administration (WPA) project launched during the Great Depression to catalog and celebrate the nation's folk art and craftsmanship. Operating primarily out of the New York City project, Dana produced hundreds of precise renderin...