Grotesque Jug
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 22.8 x 30.1 cm (9 x 11 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 7 1/4" High
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5111
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Grotesque Jug*, captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by artist Frank Fumagalli, around 1936. Measuring 22.8 x 30.1 cm, this work faithfully captures a whimsical folk art pottery vessel, originally standing just 7 1/4 inches high. Its title evokes the playful yet eerie "grotesque" style popular in American decorative arts, where exaggerated faces and fantastical forms adorned everyday objects like jugs, adding a touch of humor and folklore to utilitarian items. Fumagalli's piece is part of the *Index of American Design*, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s th...
About the Artist
Frank Fumagalli
Frank Fumagalli (c. 1895–1958) was an Italian-born American artist whose precise watercolor renderings captured the essence of everyday American folk art objects during the mid-20th century. Little is known about his early life and training, as biographical details remain scarce beyond his immigration from Italy and establishment in the United States. Active primarily in New York, Fumagalli gained...