Juggling Marionette
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 47.3 x 36.5 cm (18 5/8 x 14 3/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 18" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15653
Art Historical Context
**Juggling Marionette** is a vibrant rendering by artist Elmer Weise, created around 1937 as part of the Index of Design (IAD), a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era. This initiative employed artists to meticulously document America's folk art, crafts, and everyday designs, preserving cultural heritage through precise, colorful illustrations. Weise's depiction captures a whimsical 18-inch-high wooden marionette in mid-juggle, embodying the playful spirit of American folk toys from the early 20th century—likely a carnival or vaudeville-inspired figure that delighted c...
About the Artist
Elmer Weise
Elmer Weise was an American artist active around 1935, best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935, this ambitious initiative employed artists across the United States to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and utilitarian objects through precise watercolor render...