Ship's Bell
1939
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.6 x 27.9 cm (14 x 11 in.) Original IAD Object: none given
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6697
Art Historical Context
Behold the gleaming curves of *Ship's Bell*, a 1939 watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper by Raymond E Noble. Measuring 14 x 11 inches, this rendering captures the sturdy, resonant form of a quintessential maritime object, its surfaces alive with subtle highlights and shadows that suggest polished metal and weathered patina. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project from 1935 to 1942—Noble's work exemplifies the era's effort to document and celebrate everyday American crafts and folk art. During the Great Depression, artists like...