Bishop Hill: Old Colony Auger

Art Historical Context

**Bishop Hill: Old Colony Auger** Created around 1938 by artist H. Langden Brown, this watercolor and graphite drawing on paper captures the intricate details of an "Old Colony Auger," a woodworking tool from the historic Bishop Hill colony in Illinois. Measuring 44.4 x 34.9 cm, the meticulously renders the original object's 27-inch length, with a 15¾-inch-wide handle and an 8-inch-long, 2-inch-wide bit, evoking the craftsmanship of 19th-century American folk tools. As part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s—this piece belongs to a vast archive of over 18,000 renderings documenting America's material culture. Bishop Hill, founded in 1846 as a utopian Swedish religious commune, produced such utilitarian objects that reflect immigrant ingenuity and self-sufficiency. Brown's precise graphite outlines combined with watercolor washes highlight the auger's ergonomic form and worn patina, celebrating everyday artifacts as artistic treasures. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, this work underscores the cultural importance of preserving regional histories through art. It invites visitors to appreciate how simple tools embody the labor and legacy of early American settlers, bridging fine art with folk heritage.

About the Artist

H. Langden Brown · 1879–1960

H. Langden Brown (1879–1960) was an American artist best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942. This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create meticulous watercolor renderings of everyday objects, tools, vehicles, and crafts that embodied the nation's folk...