Pa. German Bellows Toy Rooster
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 31 x 23.1 cm (12 3/16 x 9 1/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.3719
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Pa. Germanellows Toy Rooster a charming watercolor and graphite rendering by John Fisk, created around 1936. This delicate work on paperboard, measuring 31 x 23.1 cm, captures whimsical form of a traditional Pennsylvania German folk toy—a rooster designed as a bellows, likely from wood to produce a satisfying squeak when squeezed.'s precise graphite outlines and vibrant watercolors bring the toy's curves, bold patterns, and folkloric spirit to life, evoking handmade ingenuity of early American craftspeopleAs part of the Index of American—a Federal Art Project of the Works Progress ...
About the Artist
John Fisk
John Fisk is an artist about whom verified biographical information is limited in the major art historical literature. No confirmed dates of birth or death have been established, and details regarding nationality, training, and primary period of activity remain undocumented in readily available scholarly sources. Works attributed to John Fisk have entered museum collections, suggesting a level of...