Bootjack
c. 1939
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 27.9 x 36.2 cm (11 x 14 1/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 11 1/4" long; 3 1/2" high; 4 1/2" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.2038
Art Historical Context
Gordon Sanborn's *Bootjack* (c. 1939) is a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard, capturing the humble yet ingenious form of a traditional American folk tool. Measuring 27.9 x 36.2 cm, this work renders a bootjack—originally 11 1/4 inches long, 3 1/2 inches high, and 4 1/2 inches wide—designed to grip the heel of a boot for easy removal. Sanborn's precise lines highlight the object's sturdy wooden construction, curved handle, and practical V-notch, transforming everyday utility into an artistic study of form and function. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Prog...
About the Artist
Gordon Sanborn
Gordon Sanborn is an artist whose work appears in museum collections in notable quantity, though the biographical details that would situate him within a specific tradition, school, or national context have not been well preserved in the available record. His name suggests an English-speaking background, and the volume of work attributed to him points to a career of real substance, even if the spe...