Grotesque Jug
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 43.2 x 38 cm (17 x 14 15/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 8 3/4" High(totop of handle) 4 1/4" Dia
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.7451
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Grotesque Jug*, captivating watercolor rendering by artist George Loughridge, around 1938. This mixed-media work on paperboard (43.2 x 38 cm) meticulously captures a whimsical folk pottery vessel, standing 8¾ inches high to the top of its handle and 4¼ inches in diameter. The jug's exaggerated, fantastical features—likely evoking monstrous or playful faces—exemplify the bold, imaginative spirit of American folk art, where everyday objects become vessels of humor and creativity. Loughridge's piece is part of the prestigious Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Proje...
About the Artist
George Loughridge
George Loughridge was an American artist active during the 1930s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious New Deal initiative, running from 1935 to 1943, commissioned hundreds of artists across the United States to create meticulously detailed watercolor renderings of everyday American fol...