Pitcher
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, gouache, pen and ink, and heightening on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 30.4 x 22.8 cm (11 15/16 x 9 in.) Original IAD Object: 6 3/8" High 4 "High
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6214
Art Historical Context
Behold the exquisite *Pitcher*, a meticulously rendered study by Ralph Atkinson from around 1936, part of the National Gallery of Art's renowned Index of American Design collection This watercolor, colored pencil, gouache, and ink, and height on paperboard (30.4 x 22.8 cm) captures everyday American ceramic vessel—standing about 6 3/8 inches high and 4 inches wide—in vibrant, lifelike detail. Atkinson's work transforms a humble object into a celebration of craftsmanship, highlighting its graceful form, subtle glazes, and functional elegance. Created during the Great Depression as part of the ...
About the Artist
Ralph Atkinson
Ralph Atkinson (1913–1995) was an American artist whose precise and evocative watercolor renderings captured the essence of everyday American folk art objects during the Great Depression era. He is best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a monumental Works Progress Administration (WPA) project launched in 1935 that commissioned hundreds of artists to document the nation's...