Shaker Dressmaker's Counter
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 22.7 x 27.8 cm (8 15/16 x 10 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.13577
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Shaker Dressmaker's*, a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering by Anne Ger, created around 1936. Measuring just 22.7 x 27.8 cm, this intimate work captures the essence ofaker craftsmanship with meticulous detail, showcasing the sect's hallmark simplicity and utility. Ger's piece is part of the Index of American Design, a-era WPA Federal Art Project that employed artists to document everyday American folk and decorative arts through precise, museum-quality illustrations. The Shakers, a communal religious group flourishing in the 19th century, were renowned for their functional ...