Economy Shoulder Yoke

Art Historical Context

Ralph Atkinson's *Economy Shoulder Yoke*c. 1937) is a meticulous rendering of a utilitarian American folk craft object—a simple wooden yoke designed for balancing and carrying two pails or buckets on the shoulders. Created as part of the Index of American Design, this and graphite drawing on paperboard captures the's straightforward, functional form with precise lines and subtle color washes, highlighting its economical craftsmanship likely rooted in 19th-century rural life. The Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942, employed artists like Atkinson during the Great Depression to document everyday American objects, folk art, and decorative traditions. These works preserved cultural heritage at risk of being lost to industrialization and time, celebrating the ingenuity of ordinary makers. At 24.2 x 35.5 cm, Atkinson's piece exemplifies the Index's signature technique: graphite for exact contours and watercolor for naturalistic tones, evoking the wood's grain and wear. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it invites visitors to appreciate how humble tools embodied American resourcefulness and self-reliance.

About the Artist

Ralph Atkinson · 1913–1995

Ralph Atkinson (1913–1995) was an American artist whose precise and evocative watercolor renderings captured the essence of everyday American folk art objects during the Great Depression era. He is best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a monumental Works Progress Administration (WPA) project launched in 1935 that commissioned hundreds of artists to document the nation's...