Stern Board
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 14 x 43.2 cm (5 1/2 x 17 in.) Original IAD Object: 12" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.14863
Art Historical Context
Behold *Stern Board*, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Helen E. Gil, created around 1936. This delicate work on paperboard measures 14 x 43.2 cm (5 ½ x 17 in.), meticulously documenting an original object just 12 inches long.man's precise technique captures the intricate details of this American craft, blending soft watercolor washes for color and depth with graphite lines for sharp contours, evoking the tactile quality of wood grain and carving. As part of the Index of American Design—a WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s—*Stern Board* preserves a slice of everyday Ameri...