Roller Skates
c. 1941
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.5 x 42.7 cm (10 13/16 x 16 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 8 1/2" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.1867
Art Historical Context
**Roller Skates***Albert Rudin, c. 1941* Watercolor, graphite, and and ink on paper, 27.5 x 42.7 cm *Index of American Design, National Gallery of Art* by artist Albert Rudin around 1941, *Roller Skates* a vibrant rendering from the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project (1935–1942). This initiative employed artists across the U.S. to document everyday American objects—folksy, functional, and full of cultural character—through precise, colorful drawings. Rudin's depiction captures a pair of classic roller skates, originally just 8½ inches long, highlighting their sturdy wood...
About the Artist
Albert Rudin
Albert Rudin (1882–1943) was an American artist best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) that sought to document the nation's folk art and vernacular objects through precise artistic renderings. Active primarily in Illinois, Rudin produced detailed watercolor illustrations during the late 1930s ...