Hose Holder
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.8 x 35.4 cm (10 15/16 x 13 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.10247
Art Historical Context
William Fergusson’s *Hose Holder* (c. 1936) captures the humble elegance of an everyday American garden tool in watercolor and graphite on paper. Measuring 27.8 x 35.4 cm, this precise rendering showcases a functional object—likely a coiled metal or wooden holder for watering hoses—elevating utilitarian design to an art form. Fergusson’s skilled hand brings out intricate details, from curving forms to subtle textures, inviting viewers to appreciate the craftsmanship of ordinary life. Created as part of the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Project under the Works Progress A...