Pipe
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.8 x 26.7 cm (14 1/8 x 10 1/2 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2233
Art Historical Context
Mabel Ritter's *Pipe* (c. 1936) is a captivating watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper, measuring 35.8 x 26.7 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a monumental Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression—this work exemplifies the era's effort to document and celebrate America's rich folk art heritage. Ritter, one of many talented artists commissioned for the project, meticulously captured the intricate details of this everyday object, likely a traditional tobacco pipe, highlighting its craftsmanship and cultural resonance in...