Stoneware Jug
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, graphite and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.7 x 23 cm (10 7/8 x 9 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 17 1/2 High 11" Dia.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5029
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Stoneware Jug*, a rendering by artist Annie B. Johnston, created around 1938 as part of the Index of American Design. This, colored pencil, graphite, and-and-ink drawing on paper (27.7 x 23 cm) captures the of a traditional American stoneware vessel—originally 17½ inches high and 11 in diameter. Johnston's precise depiction highlights the jug's robust form, glossy glaze, and utilitarian charm, evoking the everyday craftsmanship of early American potters. Produced under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, the Index of Amer...
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...