Jug

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate rendering of a *Jug* by Yolande Delasser, created 1940 as part of the Index of American. This watercolor and graphite on paperboard, measuring 22.8 x 29.2 cm (9 x 11½ in.), captures the modest elegance of an everyday American object—originally 7¼ inches high—likely a humble ceramic vessel from the nation's folk craft tradition. Delasser's precise lines in graphite delineate the jug's form and subtle contours, while soft watercolor washes evoke its earthy tones and tactile surface, blending technical accuracy with artistic sensitivity. Produced under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, the Index of American Design commissioned artists like Delasser to document thousands of utilitarian objects, preserving America's diverse decorative arts heritage. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection (Department CG-W), this piece exemplifies the project's mission to celebrate regional craftsmanship and cultural identity, from pottery to textiles. By transforming a simple jug into a vibrant study, Delasser's work highlights how ordinary items embody the ingenuity and history of American life, inviting us to appreciate the artistry in the everyday.

About the Artist

Yolande Delasser · 1855–present

Yolande Delasser was an American artist active during the mid-1930s, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Amid the Great Depression, this ambitious New Deal initiative commissioned artists to document America's rich heritage of folk art and utilitarian objects through precise watercolor ren...