Horse Statue
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.2 x 35.6 cm (10 11/16 x 14 in.) Original IAD Object: 81" high; 90" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8315
Art Historical Context
Alf Bruseth's *Horse Statue* (c. 1937) a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 27.2 x 35.6 cm. This detailed drawing captures the form of a monumental original sculpture—81 inches high and 90 inches longlikely a folk art masterpiece evoking the spirit of American craftsmanship. Bruseth's precise lines in graphite, enhanced by vibrant watercolor washes, bring out the horse's dynamic pose and textured surfaces, blending technical accuracy with artistic flair. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Progress Administration (WPA) initiative from ...
About the Artist
Alf Bruseth
Alf Bruseth (1898–1974) was born on May 10, 1898, in Silvana, Washington, a small logging community in Snohomish County. As a self-taught artist specializing in watercolor and drawings, Bruseth honed his skills independently before entering the professional art world during the Great Depression. In 1938, he submitted his portfolio to Robert Bruce Inverarity, supervisor of the Federal Art Project i...