Pottery Jug

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Pottery Jug*, a captivating watercolor and colored pencil rendering by artist Al Curry, created around 1938. Measuring 31 x 24.2 cm, this work on paperboard belongs to the esteemed Index of American Design, now housed in the National Gallery of Art. Rather than a physical vessel, it is a meticulous artistic documentation of a humble pottery jug, rendered with vibrant hues and fine detail to celebrate everyday American craftsmanship. Produced during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Index (1935–1942) employed hundreds of artists to preserve the nation's folk art and design heritage through precise, colorful drawings. Al Curry's contribution exemplifies this mission, capturing the jug's simple form, glossy glazes, and tactile qualities in a medium that blends watercolor's fluidity with colored pencil's precision—ideal for evoking texture and depth on paperboard. This piece highlights the cultural importance of vernacular pottery in American life, from utilitarian kitchenware to symbols of regional traditions. By immortalizing such objects, Curry and his peers not only safeguarded vanishing crafts but also affirmed the artistic value of the ordinary, inviting us to appreciate the ingenuity woven into our shared history.

About the Artist

Al Curry · 1855–present

**Al Curry** (American, active c. 1935) was a skilled draftsman whose precise renderings captured the essence of American folk art and vernacular craftsmanship during the Great Depression era. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain sparsely documented. Curry gained prominence through his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art P...