Tankard
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 34.6 x 26.5 cm (13 5/8 x 10 7/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 6 1/8" high; 4 1/8" in diameter
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.14972
Art Historical Context
**Tankard**, a meticulous rendering by Hester Duany around 1940, captures the elegance of an everyday American drinking vessel from the nation's decorative arts tradition. Created using watercolor, graphite, pen ink on paperboard (34.6 x 26.5 cm), this vividly documents a tankard originally measuring 6 1/8 inches high and 4 1/8 inches in diameter. Duany's precise techniques—combining fluid watercolor washes for depth, fine graphite shading for form, and intricate pen lines for detail—bring the object's curves, handle, and subtle ornamentation to life, showcasing her skill in translating three-...
About the Artist
Hester Duany
Hester Duany (1891–1964) was an American artist best known for her meticulous renderings of traditional American folk art objects as part of the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942. Working out of the New York City Project, Duany contributed dozens of watercolor and graphite drawings on paperboard that captured the intrica...