Toaster
c. 1935
Medium
pen and ink and colored pencil on paper
Dimensions
overall: 29 x 22.9 cm (11 7/16 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15135
Art Historical Context
**Toaster** by Rollington Campbell (c. 1935) is a meticulous rendering in pen and ink with colored pencil on paper, 29 x 22.9 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the 1930s work captures the sleek form of a common household toaster with precise lines and vibrant hues, highlighting chrome accents and functional elegance. The Index of American Design, between 1935 and 1942, employed artists across the U.S. document everyday objects, folk art, and crafts that defined American identity during the Great Depression. Campbell's contribution exem...