Sconce
1935/1942
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 29.5 x 22.9 cm (11 5/8 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.12030
Art Historical Context
Behold the elegant *Sconce*, a graphite drawing on paperboard by Jack Stal, crafted between 1935 and1942. Measuring a compact 29.5 x 22.9 cm, this work captures the intricate details of a classic wall-mounted light fixture, highlighting its graceful curves and functional beauty. Staloff's precise lines in graphite—applied with fine control on the sturdy paperboard supportreveal his skill in rendering three-dimensional form with shading and texture, evoking the object's metallic sheen and ornate craftsmanshipThis piece is a gem from the Index of American Design, a landmark Federal Art Project u...
About the Artist
Jack Staloff
Jack Staloff was an American artist and designer active during the 1930s and 1940s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create precise watercolor and graphite renderings of everyday American crafts, tools, and dec...