Carved Cat Head Gargoyle
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 27.8 x 35.6 cm (10 15/16 x 14 in.) Original IAD Object: 8 1/2" high; 10 1/2" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16377
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Carved Cat Head Garg*, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Alton K. Skillin created around 1936. Measuring 27.8 x 35.6 cm, this detailed captures the fierce yet whimsical face of a carved stone gargoyle—originally 8½ inches high and 10½ inches wideevoking the playful menace of medieval architecture reimagined in American folk tradition. Skillin's precise lines and subtle washes bring the cat's arched back, pointed ears, and snarling mouth to life on paperboard, blending realism with artistic flair. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design (IAD), a Dep...