Sofa
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 45 x 57.9 cm (17 11/16 x 22 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 88"long; 34"greatest height; 24"greatest depth.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5608
Art Historical Context
Harry Eisman's *Sofa* (c. 1940) is a vibrant rendering from the Index of American Design, a trove of Depression-era artwork preserved at the National Gallery of Art Created using watercolor, colored pencil, graphite on paperboard (45 x 57.9 cm), this piece meticulously documents an elegant American sofa measuring 88 inches long, a greatest height of 34 inches depth of 24 inches Eisman, a skilled illustrator, captures the sofa's graceful curves and upholstery with precise, luminous detail, showcasing everyday objects as emblems of national heritage. Part of the Federal Art Project under the Wo...
About the Artist
Harry Eisman
Harry Eisman is an artist about whom the historical record remains sparse, and reliable details regarding his dates, nationality, and training have not been firmly established in available scholarship. The works associated with his name suggest engagement with the graphic arts or printmaking traditions, though the full scope of his career and artistic interests is difficult to characterize without...