Watch Key
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28 x 22.8 cm (11 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2482
Art Historical Context
Step into the meticulous world of American craftsmanship with *Watch Key*, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Robert Clark, created around 1938. Measuring 11 x 9 inches on paperboard, this work belongs to the esteemed Index of American Design (AD), a treasure trove housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W department. Clark's precise depiction captures the intricate details of a humble yet elegant watch key—an essential tool for winding pocket watches, symbolizing the ingenuity of everyday American objects from the 19th and early 20 centuries. Produced during the Great Depr...