Foot Scraper
c. 1941
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 26.2 x 35.3 cm (10 5/16 x 13 7/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11880
Art Historical Context
Nestled within the National Gallery of Art's Index of American Design collection,Foot Scraper* by Jacob Lipkin (c. 1941) is a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard, measuring 26.2 x 35.3 cm. This rendering captures a humble yet essential American household object—a boot or foot scraper, used to remove mud debris from shoes before entering the home. Lipkin's precise lines and shading highlight the scraper's sturdy form, likely crafted from metal or iron, evoking the practical ingenuity of early American vernacular design. Created as part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress ...