Toaster

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 exemplifies this effort, transforming a modern appliance into a celebrated artifact of industrial design. Pen and ink provided sharp detail for contours and textures, while colored pencil added lifelike depth, making these sheets both artistic and archival treasures now housed at the National Gallery of Art. This toaster rendering reflects the era's fascination with electrification and streamlined modernism, bridging utilitarian innovation with cultural heritage. It invites us to appreciate how ordinary items shaped daily life, preserving a slice of 1930s America for future generations.