Pitcher
1937
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 31 x 23.2 cm (12 3/16 x 9 1/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17252
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of American design with *Pitcher*, a meticulous 1937 rendering by artist John Tarantino. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era—this watercolor and graphite work on paperboard (31 x 23.2 cm) captures essence of everyday American craftsmanship. The Index commissioned artists across the U.S. to document folk art, decorative objects, and utilitarian designs, preserving cultural heritage at a time when many artifacts faced obscurity or destruction. Tarantino's piece exemplifies the project's precis...
About the Artist
John Tarantino
John Tarantino was an American artist active from around 1935 to 1953, best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create precise renderings of everyday folk art objects, preserving the nation's vernacular design heritage a...