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Open 10:00–5:00

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Sperm Oil Street Lamp

c. 1937

Kurt Melzer

Associated Names

Kurt Melzer

Artist, American, active c. 1935

The image shows a large illustration of a lantern hanging from a hook in the upper right portion. Below and to the left, there is a smaller sketch of the same lantern on a post in the lower left. The color palette is earthy with shades of brown and gray. The background is plain and off-white.

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Artwork overview

Medium

watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper
Credit Line

Index of American Design
Dimensions

overall: 56.8 x 37.5 cm (22 3/8 x 14 3/4 in.)
Accession Number

1943.8.12440

Artwork history & notes

Inscriptions

lower right in watercolor: Kurt Melzer

Wikidata ID

Q64592600

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