Foot Scraper
1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 45.5 x 35.6 cm (17 15/16 x 14 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11854
Art Historical Context
Ralph Atkinson's *Foot Scraper* (1939) is a meticulous rendering of a quintessential American folk object, captured in watercolor, graphite, pen, and ink on paper (45.5 x 35.6 cm). As part of the Index of American Design—a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s—Atkinson's precise drawing celebrates the ingenuity of everyday craftsmanship. Foot scrapers, often cast-iron devices mounted at doorsteps, were essential in rural and urban homes from the 18th to early 20th centuries, removing mud and grime from boots before entering. Atkinson's technique blends technical accuracy with artist...
About the Artist
Ralph Atkinson
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...