Bust of P.J. Landry
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 38.1 x 29 cm (15 x 11 7/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9896
Art Historical Context
**Bust of P.J. Landry** by Al Curry, created around 1937, captures the dignified likeness of its subject in a precise bust portrait. Rendered in watercolor, colored pencil, graphite on paper (38.1 x 29 cm), this mixed-media work exemplifies the meticulous draftsmanship favored for detailed studies. The subtle layering of translucent watercolors over graphite underdrawings and colored pencil highlights allows for nuanced skin tones, fabric textures, and shadows, bringing a lifelike quality to the two-dimensional surface. This artwork is a gem from the *Index of American Design*, a groundbreaki...
About the Artist
Al Curry
**Al Curry** (American, active c. 1935) was a skilled draftsman whose precise renderings captured the essence of American folk art and vernacular craftsmanship during the Great Depression era. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain sparsely documented. Curry gained prominence through his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art P...