Andirons

Art Historical Context

Created around 1937 by Dana Bartlett, this watercolor and graphite drawing on paper portrays andirons, traditional fireplace accessories essential for holding burning logs. The artwork, measuring approximately 14 by 10 inches, documents an original object 18 inches high, reflecting the meticulous attention to detail characteristic of such renderings. This piece belongs to the Index of American Design, a Depression-era initiative under the Works Progress Administration that employed artists to catalog American decorative arts through highly accurate illustrations. Bartlett's contribution helps preserve the visual record of functional objects that defined daily life in earlier American households. Using watercolor for color and graphite for precise lines, the artist captured the form and material qualities of the andirons, emphasizing their dual role as practical tools and decorative elements. Such works not only served as historical documentation but also celebrated the craftsmanship of American artisans, offering modern viewers a window into the past.

About the Artist

Dana Bartlett · 1882–1957

Dana Bartlett was an American painter known for his luminous depictions of the California landscape, particularly the sun-drenched hills, coastlines, and desert terrain of the American Southwest. Working primarily in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Bartlett became a significant figure in the California Impressionist movement, bringing the warm, atmospheric light of Southern Cali...