Bank Pidgeon
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 47.4 x 36.1 cm (18 11/16 x 14 3/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 10 1/2" high; 7 3/4" wide; 3 1/2" deep; diameter of base is 3 1/2"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17169
Art Historical Context
**Bank Pigeon** is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Emanuel Jacobson, created between 1935 and 1942. This delicate work on paper (47.4 x 36.1 cm) meticulously documents a charming folk art object: a pigeon-shaped piggy bank, originally measuring about 10 1/2 inches high with a 3 1/2-inch base diameter. Jacobson's precise lines and subtle washes bring the bird's plump form, glassy eyes, and coin slot to life, capturing its whimsical appeal as a playful savings device from American vernacular design. As part of the *Index of American Design*—a Federal Art Project under the Wor...