"Juggling" Marionette
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 53.3 x 38.3 cm (21 x 15 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 25" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15674
Art Historical Context
Behold the whimsical "Juggling" Marion, a captivating watercolor, graphite, and gouache by artist James McLellan, around 1936. This detailed depiction captures a lively folk puppet—originally standing 25 inches tall—in mid-performance, balls arcing through the air as its carved wooden form dances with playful energy. McLellan's lines and vibrant colors bring the marionette's carved features, jointed limbs, and colorful attire to life on paperboard, measuring 21 x 15 inches. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administra...