Bandbox

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of American folk art with *Bandbox*, a meticulous rendering by John Tarantino created around 1937. This watercolor, gouache, and work on paperboard (28.1 x 22.1 cm) captures intricate details of a traditionalbox—a shallow, cylindrical container originally used for storing collars, hats, or sheet music. Popular in 19th-century America, these boxes often adorned with colorful lithographic paper featuring pastoral scenes, patriotic motifs, or whimsical designs, reflecting everyday creativity and cultural pride. Tarantino's is part of the *Index of American Design*, a landmark Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942. During the Great Depression, over 200 artists produced more than 15,000 watercolor plates documenting America's diverse design heritage, from Shaker furniture to Native American crafts. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, this work preserves the charm of vernacular objects like the original bandbox (19 3/4 inches deep), highlighting their role in domestic life and regional artistry. The mixed-media technique shines here: graphite for precise outlines, translucent watercolors for depth, and opaque gouache for bold patterns, creating a faithful yet artistic tribute. *Bandbox* invites us to appreciate how ordinary items embodied American ingenuity, bridging craft and fine art in a single, enduring image.

About the Artist

John Tarantino · 1855–present

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...