Copper Bowl
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.7 x 35.3 cm (12 1/16 x 13 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 11" in diameter; 5" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16932
Art Historical Context
Behold the luminous *Copper Bowl*, a meticulously rendered depiction by artist Rex F. Bush around 1938. This watercolor, graphite, and gouache work on paper captures the gleaming curves and subtle patina of an original copper vessel—11 inches in diameter and 5 inches high—with exquisite precision. Measuring 30.7 x 35.3 cm overall, it invites viewers to appreciate the tactile beauty of everyday American craftsmanship through Bush's skilled hand. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to...
About the Artist
Rex F. Bush
Rex F. Bush (c. 1915–2002) was an American artist best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression era. Active primarily from 1935 to 1942, Bush produced watercolor, gouache, graphite, and pen-and-ink renderings on paperboard that documented everyday American folk ...