Tool Gauge
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 34.8 x 49.7 cm (13 11/16 x 19 9/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11367
Art Historical Context
**Tool Gauge** by Chris Makrenos, around 1939, is a meticulous in watercolor, graphite, andache on paper, measuring 34.8 x 49.7 cm. This work belongs to the esteemed Index of American Design, a treasure trove of over 15,000 watercolor illustrations housed at the National Gallery of Art. Makrenos captures the intricate details of a tool gauge—a precision instrument essential to American craftsmanship—showcasing its functional beauty and engineering finesse with vibrant colors and fine lines. Produced during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Admini...
About the Artist
Chris Makrenos
Chris Makrenos was an American artist active in the mid-twentieth century who contributed a substantial body of work to the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal project that documented American folk art and decorative culture through meticulous watercolor illustration. His works are held in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and span a wide range of subjects drawn from ...