Crock
probably 1937/1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 29 x 22.6 cm (11 7/16 x 8 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 1/4" High 8 1/2" Dia(top) 6 3/4" Dia(base)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6352
Art Historical Context
Behold the humble yet elegant *Crock*, a meticulously rendered watercolor and graphite depiction by John Tarantino, likely created around 1937–1938. This 29 x 22.6 cm work on paperboard captures the of a traditional earthenware storage vessel—12¼ inches tall, with an 8½-inch top diameter tapering to 6¾ inches at the base—oking the sturdy pottery used for pickling, preserving food, or storing staples in American homes. As part of the Index of American Design, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–1942), Tarantino's drawing preserves the vernacular artistry of e...
About the Artist
John Tarantino
John Tarantino was an American artist active from around 1935 to 1953, best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create precise renderings of everyday folk art objects, preserving the nation's vernacular design heritage a...