Inkwell

Art Historical Context

This charming watercolor illustration titled "Inkwell," created by William High around 1937, showcases a small, functional object from American history. Rendered in watercolor, graphite, and heightening on paperboard, the artwork measures 12 by 9 inches and faithfully represents an original inkwell that was 4½ inches in diameter and 2 inches deep. As part of the Index of American Design collection at the National Gallery of Art, it highlights the project's mission to catalog the nation's decorative and folk arts. The artistic techniques employed—graphite for precise outlines, watercolor for subtle coloring, and heightening to add luminous highlights—create a realistic depiction that emphasizes the inkwell's form and texture. These methods were ideal for documenting crafts, allowing viewers to appreciate the details of everyday items that might otherwise be lost to time. This piece invites us to consider the role of simple objects like inkwells in daily life and writing practices of the past, underscoring the cultural value of preserving American design heritage through art.

About the Artist

William High · 1876–1995

William High (1876–date unknown) was an American artist whose surviving body of work consists of nine meticulously detailed watercolor illustrations created for the Index of American Design. His early life, training, and personal circumstances remain sparsely recorded, with no known details of teachers, art schools, or family background emerging from historical sources. Born in 1876, he appears in...