Carousel Dog
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper
Dimensions
overall: 32.3 x 44.4 cm (12 11/16 x 17 1/2 in.) Original IAD Object: 40" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8062
Art Historical Context
**Carousel Dog** by Robert Pohle, created around 1938, is a vibrant rendering of a classic American carousel figure—a whimsical wooden dog standing proudly on its hind legs, ready for a merry-go-round spin. Crafted in watercolor, graphite, and pencil on paper (32.3 x 44.4 cm), Pohle's-media technique captures the lively details of the original 40-inch-high carved sculpture, from its glossy painted fur to expressive eyes and ornate saddle. This meticulous approach highlights the tactile charm of folk art objects, blending soft watercolor washes for depth with precise graphite lines and bold col...
About the Artist
Robert Pohle
Robert Pohle is an artist about whom the available historical record provides limited documentation. His dates and nationality have not been firmly established, and the circumstances of his training and career remain unclear from currently available sources. The works associated with his name suggest a practiced hand, but without reliable biographical anchors it is not possible to place him confid...