Butter Print and Mold

Art Historical Context

In the heart of the Great Depression, the Index of American Design—a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project from 1935 to 1942—commissioned artists like Anthony Zuccare to meticulously document everyday American folk objects. Created around 1936, *Butter Print and Mold* one such watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, capturing a carved wooden tool used by farmwives to imprint decorative patterns on fresh butter blocks for market or home use. Measuring 35 x 27.7 cm, this precise study preserves the charm of 19th-century rural craftsmanship, highlighting motifs that transformed utilitarian items into folk art treasures. The original butter print stands 4 5/8 inches high and 4 1/4 inches wide, with a plunger 5 1/2 inches high and 3 1/2 inches in diameter. These handheld devices, often featuring hearts, eagles, or floral designs, reflected community pride and personal creativity in pre-industrial America. Zuccarello's technique blends vibrant watercolor washes for texture and depth with graphite's fine lines for accuracy, embodying the IAD's mission to celebrate democratic design roots amid economic hardship. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, this work underscores the cultural value of humble artifacts, bridging art history with everyday heritage and reminding us of the artistry in America's past.