Kettle

Art Historical Context

**Kettle**, a meticulous graphite drawing by Maurice Van Felix from around 1940, captures the humble yet elegant form of a traditional American kettle. Measuring 34.6 x 24.5 cm, this work exemplifies the precision of graphite on paper, a medium ideal for rendering fine details like the kettle's curved spout, sturdy handle, and subtle surface textures. Van Felix's skilled draftsmanship highlights the object's functional beauty, turning an everyday utensil into a study of craftsmanship. Created as part of the *Index of American Design*, a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s and 1940s, this drawing documents America's rich heritage of folk and decorative arts during the Great Depression. Artists like Van Felix produced thousands of such renderings to preserve cultural artifacts threatened by time or neglect, emphasizing national pride in everyday designs rooted in colonial and early American traditions. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W Department, *Kettle* invites visitors to appreciate how ordinary objects embody historical ingenuity. It reminds us that true artistry often lies in utility, bridging past and present through careful observation and national preservation efforts.

About the Artist

Maurice Van Felix

Maurice Van Felix was born on March 16, 1889, in Łódź, Poland, and later became a prominent figure in American art circles after immigrating to the United States. His early training took place in Poland and France, where he honed his skills as a painter and etcher before settling in Brooklyn, New York, by 1919. Though details of his formal education remain sparse, Van Felix quickly established him...