Cast Iron Fence
1935/1942
Medium
pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 22.9 x 30.4 cm (9 x 11 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.12123
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate *Cast Iron Fence* (1935/1942), a meticulous pen and ink rendering by artist Al Curry, measuring a modest 9 x 11 15/16 inches. Housed in the National Gallery of Art Index of American Design, drawing captures the elegant ornamental details of a quintessential American architectural element—cast iron fences that graced urban homes, parks, and public spaces in the 19th century. Created during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Index of American Design commissioned artists like Curry to document everyday folk and deco...
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...