Pilot House Ornament
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 38.4 x 33.8 cm (15 1/8 x 13 5/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16898
Art Historical Context
Discover the intricate beauty of *Pilot House Ornament*, a captivating watercolor, graphite, and pen-and-ink rendering by Mary E. Humes, created around 1939. Measuring 38.4 x 33.8 cm, this delicate work on paper captures the ornate details of a nautical decorative element from a ship's pilot house—the enclosed area where the captain steers. Humes's precise technique blends soft watercolor washes for depth and texture with fine graphite and ink lines for sharp definition, evoking the craftsmanship of traditional American maritime folk art. This piece is a gem from the Index of American Design,...
About the Artist
Mary E. Humes
**Mary E. Humes (1911–2001)** was an American artist best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a landmark Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Active primarily in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Humes produced detailed watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, and gouache renderings of everyday American folk art ...