Apple Peeler
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.5 x 41 cm (12 x 16 1/8 in.) Original IAD Object: overall: 30" long; 7" wide; uprights: 5" high and 5 3/4" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8350
Art Historical Context
**Apple Peeler**, a captivating rendering by artists H. Langden Brown and Milton Bevier around 1940, showcases a classic American kitchen tool from the 19th century. Created as part of the *Index of American Design*—a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression—this watercolor, graphite, and pen-and-ink drawing on paper meticulously captures the device's practical form: an overall length of 30 inches, 7 inches wide, with uprights rising 5 to 5¾ inches high. Measuring 30.5 x 41 cm itself, the artwork preserves the peeler's whimsical yet functional design, blending wo...