Bar Lock and Keys

Art Historical Context

"Bar Lock and Keys," rendered by artist Alexander Anderson in 1940, captures the intricate details of an early American hardware object—a sturdy bar lock measuring 6 inches high, 8 inches wide, and 1¼ inches thick. Created using watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard28.2 x 35.8 cm), this work exemplifies the meticulous realism of the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era project that documented the nation's folk art and crafts. As part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (1935–1942), the Index employed artists like Anderson to produce precise,...