Pitcher
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 22.8 x 30.4 cm (9 x 11 15/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 4" x 5"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6082
Art Historical Context
Gordon Saltar's *Pitcher* (c. 1936) is a vibrant rendering from the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project that employed artists during the Great Depression to document America's rich folk art and everyday objects. Created with watercolor, colored pencil,, and pen and ink paper (22.8 x 30.4 cm), this-media work captures the essence of a humble yet elegant pitcher, transforming a utilitarian item into a celebration of American craftsmanship. The Index, active from 1935 to 1942, produced over 15,000 such precise, colorful plates to preserve cultural heritage amid economic hardship,...