Swing Torch
c. 1936
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.8 x 22.8 cm (11 5/16 x 9 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 1/4" high; 9" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15254
Art Historical Context
Herman Bader's *Swing Torch* (c. 1936) is a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard, capturing the elegant form of an early American lighting fixture. Measuring 28.8 x 22.8 cm, this work depicts a swing torch—likely a decorative outdoor lantern or sconce designed to pivot gracefully, evoking the practical yet ornamental ironwork of colonial-era homes and gardens. The original object, rendered at 12 1/4 inches high and 9 inches wide, exemplifies vernacular American craftsmanship, blending functionality with subtle artistry. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art...
About the Artist
Herman Bader
Herman Bader is an artist whose life and career are poorly documented in existing historical sources. No birth or death dates have been confirmed, and his nationality or place of work remains uncertain, leaving significant gaps in any account of his development as an artist. The body of work attributed to Bader, preserved in collections, suggests he was a productive figure in his era. His artisti...