Vase
c. 1941
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.7 x 22.7 cm (11 5/16 x 8 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16929
Art Historical Context
**Vase, c. 1941** Created by artist Van Silvay, this delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard captures the form of a traditional American vase. Measuring 28.7 x 22.7 cm, it the meticulous draftsmanship of mid-20th-century design documentation. The combination of watercolor's luminous hues and graphite's precise lines allows for a vivid portrayal of the vase contours, textures, and subtle decorative details, bringing everyday craftsmanship to life on the page. This artwork is a gem from the *Index of American Design*, a monumental WPA Federal Art Project (1935–1942) that empl...
About the Artist
Van Silvay
Van Silvay is an artist whose biographical details remain poorly documented in the sources currently available to art historians. Neither reliable dates, nationality, training, nor a comprehensive account of artistic output have been established, making it difficult to situate this figure within a specific period, school, or geographic tradition. The name appears in connection with works held in ...