Cast Iron Figure

Art Historical Context

Step into the rich legacy of American craftsmanship with *Cast Iron Figure*, a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard by Eugene Bar, created between 1935 and1942. Measuring a compact 29.2 x 22.9 cm (11½ x 9 in.), this work is a highlight from the National Gallery of's Index of American Design. It beautifully captures the sturdy form and intricate details of a cast iron figure, a quintessential example of everyday American decorative arts. As part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, the Index of American Design commissioned artists like Barrell to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and design traditions through over 15,000 precise renderings. Graphite on paperboard was an ideal medium for these technical yet artistic studies, allowing for fine lines and subtle shading that faithfully reproduce textures and forms without the original object's wear. This drawing holds cultural significance by preserving the ingenuity of 19th- and early 20th-century American industry, where cast iron figures adorned homes as doorstops, banks, or ornaments. Barrell's work celebrates this accessible artistry, reminding us how ordinary objects embodied national pride and creativity in a time of economic hardship. A true gem for appreciating our shared heritage!

About the Artist

Eugene Barrell · 1915–1994

Eugene Barrell is an artist about whom the available historical record is sparse. No birth or death dates have been confirmed, and his nationality and artistic training are not established in the sources currently accessible to researchers. The forty-six works attributed to Barrell in museum collections indicate a sustained creative practice. His output suggests an artist who worked with regulari...