Cast Iron Cat's Head
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 40.7 x 30.4 cm (16 x 11 15/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 12" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17009
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Cast Iron Cat's Head a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Jane Iverson, created between 1935 and 1942. This precise depiction captures the sturdy, whimsical form of a 12-inch-high cast iron object—likely a decorative doorstop or garden ornament popular in early 20th-century American homes. Iverson's meticulous technique on paperboard brings out the metal's textured surface, glossy highlights, and playful feline features, transforming an everyday utilitarian item into a work of art. As part of the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progres...
About the Artist
Jane Iverson
Jane Iverson is an artist whose biographical details — including her dates, nationality, and training — are not well represented in the major art historical reference sources currently available. The limited documentation surrounding her career makes it difficult to characterize her practice in relation to any specific school, movement, or period. Works attributed to Iverson in museum collections...