Object Timeline

1934

  • Work on this object began.

1939

  • Work on this object ended.

2017

2024

  • You found it!

Drawing, Design for Chevrolet Truck

This is a Drawing. It was designed by John Chilka and from the office of General Motors. It is dated 1934–39 and we acquired it in 2017. Its medium is graphite on paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

John Chilka created these Chevrolet truck drawings during his time as a designer in the Art & Colour division at General Motors. Both designs are examples of “final tissue” drawings, which were made for transferring the outline of a work to an illustration board for presentation. Because these were produced at a later stage of the creative process after many earlier studies, final tissue drawings represent more finalized versions of designs rather than experimental concepts. After transferring these images to a new support, Chilka would then have used gouache or airbrush to prepare the presentation drawing. These examples of Chevrolet trucks demonstrate the range of features available on various vehicle models.

This object was donated by Alexandra Herzan and Paul Herzan. It is credited Gift of Alexandra and Paul Herzan.

Its dimensions are

Frame H x W x D (approx.): 40.6 × 79.4 × 3.2 cm (16 in. × 31 1/4 in. × 1 1/4 in.)

Cite this object as

Drawing, Design for Chevrolet Truck; Designed by John Chilka (American, b. Czech Republic, 1912 - 1987); Office of General Motors; graphite on paper; Frame H x W x D (approx.): 40.6 × 79.4 × 3.2 cm (16 in. × 31 1/4 in. × 1 1/4 in.); Gift of Alexandra and Paul Herzan; 2017-39-12

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1108951111/ |title=Drawing, Design for Chevrolet Truck |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=16 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>