Flat Iron
c. 1936
Medium
graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 28.8 x 23 cm (11 5/16 x 9 1/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11640
Art Historical Context
Joseph Stonefield's *Flat Iron* (c. 1936), a meticulous graphite drawing on paper measuring 28.8 x 23 cm, captures humble yet essential household tool that defined early American domestic life. Rendered with fine precision, the work highlights the flat iron's sturdy cast-iron form, wooden handle, and subtle patina, transforming a utilitarian object into a study of form and function. This artwork is part of the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s that employed artists to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and everyday designs amid the Great Depression. Stone...