Clothes Washer
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28 x 35.8 cm (11 x 14 1/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 19 1/2" long; 10 1/2" high; Drum: 4" in diameter; rollers: 1 1/2" in diameter
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9412
Art Historical Context
**Clothes Washer** by Alexander Anderson (1940) is a meticulous watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, capturing the humble ingenuity of an early American laundry device. Measuring 28 x 35.8 cm (11 x 14 1/8 in.), this artwork depicts the original object—a compact clothes washer 19 1/2 inches long and 10 1/2 inches high, featuring a 4-inch-diameter drum and 1 1/2-inch rollers. Created as part of the Federal Art Project's Index of American Design (IAD), it showcases everyday craftsmanship from America's past, blending technical precision with artistic sensitivity. The IAD, launched in...