Ring
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 16 x 12.7 cm (6 5/16 x 5 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2450
Art Historical Context
**Ring** by Kurt Melzer, created around 1936, is a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring just 16 x 12.7 cm. This intimate study captures the intricate details of an American-made ring, showcasing the precision and elegance of everyday jewelry design from the early 20th century. Melzer, a skilled illustrator, employs soft watercolors to evoke the ring's metallic sheen and gemstone facets, while graphite lines provide sharp contours and measurements—hallmarks of technical accuracy. As part of the *Index of American Design*, a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the...
About the Artist
Kurt Melzer
Kurt Melzer is an artist whose life and career remain only partially documented. The available records suggest an engagement with the visual arts, but specific details regarding his dates, nationality, training, and principal works have not been firmly established in accessible scholarly sources. Given the limitations of the historical record, a full account of Melzer's artistic formation, stylis...