Little Miss Muffet

1937-1938

American 20th Century

Associated Names
American 20th Century

Artist

Federal Art Project (Wisconsin)

Publisher

This is a painting of a figure running alongside a spider. The composition features a figure depicted in a whimsical, illustrative style. The figure wears a red and black checkered top with long sleeves and a green skirt adorned with dots. The hair is golden and depicted with bold, wavy lines. An exaggerated spider figure is also present, characterized by large eyes and minimalistic legs. Small flower motifs scatter throughout the background. The art utilizes flat colors and simple shapes, reminiscent of mid-20th-century children's book illustrations.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    color woodcut on cotton fabric

  • Credit Line

    Corcoran Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 30.8 × 30.8 cm (12 1/8 × 12 1/8 in.)
    sheet: 38.42 × 37.47 cm (15 1/8 × 14 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2015.143.1505.2

  • Portfolio Title

    Applied Design, Blockprinted Textiles: Volume VI, Supplement

Associated Artworks

See all 13 artworks
The image shows the full bodies of a man and a woman standing next to each other. The man is on the left, his right arm resting on the woman's shoulder. The woman faces slightly towards the man, holding his arm with both hands. The man has dark hair with a red feather accent and wears a colorful outfit. The woman has long black hair under a blue hat with a red feather and wears a traditional-style dress. There is no jewelry or objects visible on either figure. The background has a simple pattern of blue and red shapes on a neutral ground.

Man and Woman

American 20th Century, Federal Art Project (Wisconsin)

1937

Applied Design, Blockprinted Textiles: Volume VI, Supplement

American 20th Century, Federal Art Project (Wisconsin)

1937

The image contains a symmetrical arrangement of bold lines and shapes on a blue background. Two curved leaves flank a vertical line of small, oval shapes resembling a stylized plant or leaf cluster. The design is abstract, with two leaf-like figures on either side - one filled with alternating dark and light blue segments, and the other with alternating dark and yellow segments. The central vertical stem-like line consists of stacked, rounded shapes resembling leaflets. The central motif suggests a decorative, abstract representation of nature, resembling a simplified branch with two contrasting leaves. The background features intersecting horizontal and vertical lines, possibly suggesting a plaid pattern.

Plaid Pattern with Leaves

American 20th Century, Federal Art Project (Wisconsin)

1937

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Eugene E. Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1938; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Wikidata ID

Q77013601

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