Naval Clapper
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 54.3 x 42.2 cm (21 3/8 x 16 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 7/8" high; 5 3/8" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9381
Art Historical Context
**Naval Clapper**, a meticulous rendering by artist Albert Rudin circa 1939, captures the essence of an early American nautical artifact through watercolor, graphite, pen and ink on paperboard. 54.3 x 42.2 cm, this detailed study depicts a compact wooden clapper—originally 12 7/8 inches high and 5 3/8 inches—likely used in maritime signaling or shipboard bells. Rudin's precise highlights the object's functional form, showcasing the sturdy craftsmanship typical of colonial-era tools essential for life at sea. Created as part of *Index of American Design*IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art P...
About the Artist
Albert Rudin
Albert Rudin (1882–1943) was an American artist best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) that sought to document the nation's folk art and vernacular objects through precise artistic renderings. Active primarily in Illinois, Rudin produced detailed watercolor illustrations during the late 1930s ...