Figure of Knickerbocker
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 28.8 x 22.9 cm (11 5/16 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
1943.8.9936
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Figure of Knickerb* by Gilbert Sackerman, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paper from around 1936. Measuring 28.8 x 22.9 cm, this delicate work captures the whimsical charm of an American folk art figure, evoking the sturdy, playful spirit of early colonial craftsmanship. Sackerman's precise lines and subtle washes bring out the figure's character, blending graphite's sharp detail with watercolor's soft luminosity to mimic wood grain and painted surfaces. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project during the Great Dep...
About the Artist
Gilbert Sackerman
Gilbert Sackerman is an artist about whom very little biographical information has been preserved. His dates of birth and death are unknown, and his national or regional origin has not been firmly established through surviving records. Sackerman's presence in museum collections attests to a working artistic life, but the details of his training, his influences, and the communities in which he wor...