John Thorsen

American, active c. 1935

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The image shows a detailed drawing of a vintage corset. The corset has a prominent lace-up detail down the center and decorative stitching patterns throughout. The color palette is primarily soft beige with hints of gold and light browns. The corset is centrally positioned on a plain, neutral background. Small buttons are aligned on the left and right edges of the corset.
John Thorsen, Corset, c. 1941, watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.1208

Corset

John Thorsen · c. 1941 · watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.1208
A decorative pouch with intricate beadwork is displayed. The pouch features detailed floral patterns made of beads in colors such as blue, red, yellow, and white against a dark brown background. The color palette includes a mix of earthy tones and vibrant bead colors that contrast with the neutral background. The pouch is centrally positioned in the image, with the strap lying on top and bead fringes extending from its bottom edge.
John Thorsen, Bag, c. 1941, watercolor, goauche, and graphite on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.2149

Bag

John Thorsen · c. 1941 · watercolor, goauche, and graphite on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.2149
This is a photograph of an ornate textile featuring an intricate pattern composed of floral and geometric motifs in red, blue, and green. The design includes stylized flowers, leaves, and borders woven intricately. The fabric is slightly frayed at the edges, adding texture. The weaving technique suggests a historical or traditional influence, contributing to the textile's decorative appeal. The symmetry and repetition of patterns add to the visual balance of the piece.
John Thorsen, U.S. Grant Coverlet, 1939, watercolor and graphite on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.2784

U.S. Grant Coverlet

John Thorsen · 1939 · watercolor and graphite on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.2784
This is a painting of a bird perched on a branch. The composition shows a bird with greenish-brown feathers perched on a small, twisted branch. The artist has depicted the bird's markings including yellow chest feathers and a long tail. The colors of the bird contrast with the pale background, emphasizing the subject's form.
John Thorsen, Robin (German?), c. 1939, watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard, Index of American Design, 1943.8.8717

Robin (German?)

John Thorsen · c. 1939 · watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard ·  Accession ID  1943.8.8717
The image shows a detailed drawing of a sextant in the foreground and its wooden case in the background. The colors include brown and green tones, with the sextant featuring dark wood and metallic parts in greenish hues. The sextant is centered in the composition, with the case positioned slightly above and to the right in the background.
John Thorsen, Octant, 1939, watercolor, pen and ink, and graphite on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.12795

Octant

John Thorsen · 1939 · watercolor, pen and ink, and graphite on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.12795
The image shows a large antique cast iron with a handle. The color palette consists of earthy browns, rust, and beige tones. The iron is centrally positioned in the image at a slight diagonal angle. The background is a plain, light beige color, contrasting with the darker iron.
John Thorsen, Iron, c. 1938, watercolor, colored pencil, and pen and ink on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.11871

Iron

John Thorsen · c. 1938 · watercolor, colored pencil, and pen and ink on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.11871
The image displays an illustration of an accordion-like mechanical device. It features wooden panels, white buttons, metal components, and a bellows with brown, white, green, and red colors. The bellows is partially expanded, showing white buttons on one side and intricate metal mechanisms on another panel. A smaller section with similar details is located at the bottom of the image.
John Thorsen, Woman's Accordian, 1938, watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.12776

Woman's Accordian

John Thorsen · 1938 · watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.12776
This is a painting of a spiked iron harness or bridle. The artwork depicts a circular iron ring with protruding spikes evenly distributed around its form, resembling an agricultural or medieval implement. Attached to the ring are leather straps. The stark contrast between the metal and the leather creates a striking visual element. The light brown background provides a neutral canvas that allows the detailed textures of the iron and leather to stand out. This is in the style of John Peto, known for his meticulous rendering of everyday objects and antiquities in trompe-l'oeil fashion.
John Thorsen, Nose Piece (For Weaning Calf), c. 1938, watercolor and graphite on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.12735

Nose Piece (For Weaning Calf)

John Thorsen · c. 1938 · watercolor and graphite on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.12735
The image displays a single large wooden plow with metal components. It is positioned horizontally across the center of the image, with the handles extending to the left and the plowshare pointing to the right. The color palette consists of natural brown and tan hues for the wood, and dark gray for the metal parts. The background is plain and light beige, emphasizing the plow.
John Thorsen, Plow, c. 1938, watercolor and graphite on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.13013

Plow

John Thorsen · c. 1938 · watercolor and graphite on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.13013
This is a painting of an intricate, geometric design in the style of traditional folk art. The image features an octagonal design with detailed, symmetrical floral and heart motifs connected by decorative lines. Within each heart-shaped area, there is handwritten text. The palette includes light blues, reds, and browns. The outer edge of the octagon has a blue border with small floral embellishments. The center features a floral motif. The name "John Ebersen" is inscribed on the bottom right of the canvas.
John Thorsen, Valentine, c. 1937, watercolor and graphite on paper, Index of American Design, 1943.8.15921

Valentine

John Thorsen · c. 1937 · watercolor and graphite on paper ·  Accession ID  1943.8.15921