Iron Tea Kettle

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of American craftsmanship with *Iron Tea Kettle*, a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard by Frederick Jackson created between 1935 and 1942. This artwork is a cherished artifact from the Index of American Design (I), a groundbreaking Works Progress Administration (WPA project during the Great Depression. Launched in 1935, the IAD employed hundreds of artists to document everyday objects that embodied the nation's folk art and design heritage, preserving them through detailed renderings for future generations. Measuring 28 x 22.9 cm (11 x 9 in.), Jackson drawing captures an original iron tea kettle—9 inches in diameter and 8 inches high—with precision and reverence. Rendered in graphite, the technique highlights the kettle's sturdy form, functional curves, and subtle textures, evoking the robust ironwork of early American households. These IAD sheets, now housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W Department, were not mere sketches but scholarly records, blending artistic skill with historical documentation. Today, *Iron Tea Kettle* reminds us of the ingenuity in humble domestic objects, symbols of resilience and self-reliance in colonial and frontier life. It's a testament to how WPA initiatives not only provided jobs for artists like Jackson but also safeguarded America's cultural legacy amid economic hardship.