Toy Locomotive
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 22.8 x 29.8 cm (9 x 11 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 22" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16670
Art Historical Context
Behold the charming *Toy Locom*, a meticulously rendered depiction by artist Fisk around 1936. Created as part the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking Federal Art Project (1935–1942)—this watercolor, graphite, gouache work on paperboard (.8 x 29. cm) documents a -inch-long folk toy, preserving America's vernacular craftsmanship during the Great Depression. Fisk precise rendering captures the locomotive's whimsical details, from its bold red body to gleaming accents, evoking the era's fascination with steam-powered. The Index aimed to celebrate everyday design, from quilts to toys, emplo...
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...