Iron Dragon
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 24.4 x 35.6 cm (9 5/8 x 14 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11679
Art Historical Context
**Iron Dragon** by Pearl Torell, created around 1939, is a captivating rendering from the *Index of American Design*, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project initiative during the Great Depression. program employed artists across the U.S. to document everyday American objects—from folk art to industrial designs—preserving the nation's cultural heritage through precise, colorful illustrations. Torell's work captures the whimsical "Iron Dragon," likely a decorative or functional iron piece evoking folklore and craftsmanship, highlighting the ingenuity of American makers. Executed in watercolor, grap...