Pitcher
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.1 x 23.4 cm (11 1/16 x 9 3/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 1"(?) High 7" Wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.7304
Art Historical Context
This watercolor and graphite rendering titled *Pitcher*, created by Joseph Sudek circa 1936, exemplifies the precise documentary approach of the Index of American Design. Measuring 28.1 by 23.4 centimeters on paperboard, the work carefully records the form, proportions, and surface qualities of a pitcher using watercolor for subtle color and graphite for fine structural details. It forms part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection of these specialized illustrations. The Index of American Design assembled a visual catalog of American decorative arts and crafts through artist-made records ...
About the Artist
Joseph Sudek
Josef Sudek (1896–1976) was a Czech photographer widely regarded as one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century, known for his poetic, intimate images of Prague and his mastery of light. Born in Kolín, Bohemia, he lost his right arm during World War I and turned to photography during his convalescence, studying at the State School of Graphic Arts in Prague from 1922 to 1924. Sudek ...