Stoneware Jug
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, graphite and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.4 x 23.1 cm (11 15/16 x 9 1/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 12" High 7" Dia.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5034
Art Historical Context
Behold the elegant *Stoneware Jug*, meticulously rendered by artist Annie B. Johnston around 1937. This vibrant watercolor, enhanced with colored pencil, graphite pen, and ink on paper (30.4 x 23.1 cm), captures the simple yet sturdy form of the original vessel—12 inches high and 7 in diameter. Johnston's skilled hand brings out the jug's tactile qualities, from its glossy glaze to its practical proportions, evoking everyday American craftsmanship. Created as part of the *Index of American Design* (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942, th...
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...