Pa. German Rolling Pin
c. 1941
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 36.3 x 45.8 cm (14 5/16 x 18 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 10 15/16" wide; 6 3/16" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.3811
Art Historical Context
**Pa. German Rolling Pin a vibrant watercolor and graphite rendering by Frank Budash from around 1941, captures the charm of everyday Pennsylvania German folk art. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression—this work meticulously documents regional American crafts. Budash's precise depiction preserves the carved wooden rolling pin, a utilitarian kitchen tool from the Pennsylvania DutchGerman) communities, known for their intricate motifs inspired by European traditions adapted in the New World....
About the Artist
Frank Budash
Frank Budash was an American artist active during the late 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create precise watercolor and graphite renderings of everyday American objects, folk crafts, and decorative ...