Jug c. 1937

Charles Caseau made this drawing of a stoneware jug in the 20th century using watercolor and graphite on paper. At first glance, it's just a simple depiction, but let’s consider the social and institutional context of this piece. Caseau worked for the Index of American Design, a WPA program during the Great Depression. The Index sought to document and celebrate American material culture, creating a visual archive of folk art and decorative objects. This jug, with its folksy floral decoration and the stamp of a local pottery, embodies the values of the Index. It's a celebration of regional craftsmanship and a reminder of a simpler, pre-industrial past. By studying the Index and related historical records, we can understand the cultural anxieties and aspirations of the 1930s, including the desire to define a distinctly American aesthetic. This image speaks to the role of art in shaping national identity.