Chopper
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 27.9 x 22.8 cm (11 x 9 in.) Original IAD Object: overall: 36" long; blades: 3 1/2" high; 6" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9391
Art Historical Context
**Chopper**, a captivating watercolor rendering by artist John R. Towers from around 1939, meticulously captures the form and character of an everyday American tool. Created on paperboard using watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink, 27.9 x 22.8 cm (11 x 9 in.) work depicts a substantial chopper—originally 36 inches long with blades measuring 3½ inches high and 6 long. Towers' precise lines and subtle color washes bring to life the object's functional beauty, highlighting its sturdy craftsmanship in a style that blends technical accuracy with artistic sensitivity. This piece is part of the *In...