Pottery Jar with Lid
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 27.8 x 22.8 cm (10 15/16 x 9 in.) Original IAD Object: 13 1/2" High 8" Dia.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6075
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate *Pottery with Lid*, a vivid 1938 rendering by B. Johnston, captured watercolor, colored pencil, graphite on paperboard (.8 x 22.8 cm). This artwork faithfully depicts an original ceramic—13½ inches high and inches in diameter—showcasing everyday American craftsmanship meticulous detail. Johnston's precise lines and subtle color washes highlight the jar's graceful form, lid finial, and textured surface, inviting viewers to appreciate the humble beauty of functional pottery. Created as part of the of American Design, a Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WP...
About the Artist
Annie B. Johnston
Annie B. Johnston was an American artist active in the late 1930s, recognized for her contributions to the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal program that commissioned artists to create meticulous watercolor renderings of American folk and decorative arts objects. Working in watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and pen and ink on paper, Johnston brought technical precision and sen...