Colander

Art Historical Context

**Colander** by Yolande Delasser, around 1936, is a meticulous rendering of a humble household object—a colander measuring 4 inches high with an 11½-inch top diameter and 7-inch base. Executed in watercolor, graphite, andache on paperboard (23 × 29.1 cm), this work belongs to the prestigious Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (PA). During the Great Depression, artists Delasser documented everyday American crafts, preserving cultural heritage through detailed, colorful illustrations. The IAD, spanning 1935–1942, produced over 15,000 such renderings of folk art, tools, and designs, from colonial pewter to modern motifs, now housed in collections like the National Gallery of Art. Delasser's piece exemplifies the project's goal: to celebrate utilitarian beauty in American life. Gouache provides opaque vibrancy for metallic sheen and shadows, while graphite adds precise outlines, capturing the colander's graceful tapering form and perforated surface with scientific accuracy. This artwork highlights how ordinary kitchenware embodied craftsmanship and functionality, reflecting Depression-era pride in national identity. Visitors will appreciate its blend of artistry and history, inviting a fresh look at the familiar.

About the Artist

Yolande Delasser · 1855–present

Yolande Delasser was an American artist active during the mid-1930s, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Amid the Great Depression, this ambitious New Deal initiative commissioned artists to document America's rich heritage of folk art and utilitarian objects through precise watercolor ren...