Old Wood Ladle
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
sheet: 24.4 × 35 cm (9 5/8 × 13 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
1943.8.9722
Art Historical Context
**Old Wood Ladle** by Geoffrey Holt captures the humble beauty of American folk craft through a meticulous rendering created between 1935 and 1942. As part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project during the Great Depression—this watercolor, graphite, and pen-and-ink drawing on paper (24.4 × 35 cm) documents everyday objects that embodied the nation's cultural heritage. Holt, one of over 400 artists involved, transformed a simple wooden ladle—likely a utilitarian tool from early American kitchens—into a vibrant study, preserving its form and patina for posterity...
About the Artist
Geoffrey Holt
Geoffrey Holt was born in England on August 18, 1882, and received his artistic training in London and Paris before eventually making his career in the United States. After arriving in America, he lived in Minneapolis, where he worked as an interior designer for the John S. Bradstreet Company—an experience that developed his sensitivity to space, surface, and decorative harmony. By around 1920 he ...