Iron Ladle
c. 1941
Medium
graphite and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 35 x 24.8 cm (13 3/4 x 9 3/4 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9667
Art Historical Context
**Iron Ladle** by Genevieve Jordan, created around 1941, captures the humble elegance of a traditional American kitchen tool through meticulous graphite and colored pencil on paperboard. Measuring 35 x 24.8 cm, this is part of the prestigious Index of American Design, a WPA-era project housed in the Gallery of Art's CG-W department. Jordan's precise rendering highlights the ladle's sturdy form, forged iron handle, and subtle patina, transforming an everyday object into a testament to early American craftsmanship. The Index of American Design (1935–1942) employed artists across the U.S. to doc...