Pottery Jug
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 31 x 24.2 cm (12 3/16 x 9 1/2 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6065
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 ...
About the Artist
Al Curry
**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...