Shaker Man's Trousers

Art Historical Context

**Shaker Man's Trousers** *Alice Stearns, c. 1936* Watercolor and graphite on, 36 x 24.7 cm Index of American Design, National of Art Created by artist Alice Stearns as part of the Index of American Design—a WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s—this watercolor rendering meticulously documents a pair of trousers emblematic of Shaker craftsmanship. Launched during the Great Depression, the Index employed artists across America to preserve everyday objects through detailed, colorful illustrations, safeguarding cultural heritage amid economic hardship. Stearns' work captures the Shakers' philosophy of simplicity and utility, a 19th-century religious community famed for their austere, functional designs that rejected ornamentation in favor of honest materials and precise construction. The trousers exemplify Shaker ingenuity: wide-legged for ease of movement during communal labor, crafted from durable wool with minimal stitching and reinforced seams. Stearns employs watercolor for vibrant yet subdued tones and graphite for sharp lines, blending artistic flair with scientific accuracy to highlight textures and form. This 14-by-9-inch sheet (14 3/16 x 9 3/4 in.) invites us to appreciate how everyday garments embodied spiritual ideals of equality and efficiency. Displayed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W department, this piece bridges art and history, reminding visitors of America's folk traditions and the artists who immortalized them.

About the Artist

Alice Stearns · 1855–present

Alice Stearns was an American artist active around 1935, renowned for her precise watercolor and gouache renderings of everyday American folk art objects. Working under the Works Progress Administration's (WPA) Federal Art Project, she contributed to the Index of American Design, a Depression-era initiative launched in 1935 to document the nation's crafts, decorative arts, and vernacular designs b...