Wood Carving of 6 Balls
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.4 x 24.5 cm (13 15/16 x 9 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 10 3/8" high; 1 21/32" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15261
Art Historical Context
**Wood Carving of 6** is a meticulous rendering by Norwegian-American artist Alf Bruseth, between 1935 and1942 as part of Index of American Design (IAD). This watercolor, graphite, and gou work on paper captures a humble yet intriguing folk wood carving—measuring just 10 3/8 inches high and 1 21/32 inches wide—depicting six precisely carved balls, likely stacked or arranged in a whimsical, sculptural form. At 35.4 x 24.5 cm, the sheet showcases Bruseth's skill in translating three-dimensional woodwork into vibrant, detailed color studies, highlighting the object's smooth contours and natural g...
About the Artist
Alf Bruseth
Alf Bruseth (1898–1974) was born on May 10, 1898, in Silvana, Washington, a small logging community in Snohomish County. As a self-taught artist specializing in watercolor and drawings, Bruseth honed his skills independently before entering the professional art world during the Great Depression. In 1938, he submitted his portfolio to Robert Bruce Inverarity, supervisor of the Federal Art Project i...