Fraktur
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 34.5 x 46.4 cm (13 9/16 x 18 1/4 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16723
Art Historical Context
"Fraktur" by Levone captures the vibrant spirit of Pennsylvania German folk art a meticulous watercolor and graphite rendering on paper. Dating from the Index of American Design project1935–1942), 34.5 x 46.4 cm work reproduces the decorative style of traditional Fraktur—illuminated manuscripts created by itinerant artists in the 18th and 19th centuries. These pieces, often serving as birth, baptismal, or marriage certificates, burst with bold motifs like hearts, flowers, birds, tulips, symbolizing family heritage and community bonds among German settlers in colonial America. As part of the W...
About the Artist
Albert Levone
Albert Levone was an American artist who contributed to the Index of American Design, the Works Progress Administration's landmark program to document the nation's decorative arts heritage through precise watercolor rendering. Active during the late 1930s and early 1940s, Levone focused his work on the material culture of the Pennsylvania German community, producing renderings of objects that incl...