Swinging Fan
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 36.2 x 44.3 cm (14 1/4 x 17 7/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2080
Art Historical Context
"Swinging Fan," created around 1937 by artist Al Curry, is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 36.2 x 44.3 cm. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Index of American Design collection, this work exemplifies the meticulous documentation of everyday American objects from the nation's cultural heritage. Produced as part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, the Index of American Design (1935–1942) employed artists like Curry to capture the essence of folk art, crafts, and design through precise, co...
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...