Stoneware Jar
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, graphite and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 28.2 x 22.8 cm (11 1/8 x 9 in.) Original IAD Object: 10" High 6 1/2" Dia.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5033
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate rendering of a *Stoneware Jar* by B. Johnston, created 1937 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD). This watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink drawing on paper (28.2 x 22.8 cm) meticulously captures a humble yet enduring American folk object: a stoneware jar standing 10 inches high and6½ inches in diameter. Stoneware, fired at high temperatures for exceptional durability, was a staple in everyday American life, used for storage from the 18th century onward. Johnston's work belongs to the IAD, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project (1935–1942) that employed a...
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...