Lock and Key
c. 1938
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 22.7 x 29 cm (8 15/16 x 11 7/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 6 1/2" wide; 5 1/4" high, 1 1/4" deep
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.12547
Art Historical Context
**Lock and Key**, a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard by Maurice Van, dates to around 1938 and captures the intricate details of an early American lock and key. Measuring 22.7 x 29 cm overall, this work renders a small yet elaborate original object—6 1/2 inches wide, 5 1/4 inches high, and 1 1/4 inches deep—casing the precision of 18th- or 19th-century craftsmanship. Van Felix's fine lines highlight the lock's ornate filigree, wards, and key bit, evoking the blend of functionality and artistry in everyday American hardware. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Fede...
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...