Wooden Spoon
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 34.6 x 25.1 cm (13 5/8 x 9 7/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.14874
Art Historical Context
Behold the humble *Wooden Spoon*, a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paper from the Index of American Design, created by an American artist between 1935 and 1942. Measuring 34.6 x 25.1 cm, this precise depiction captures the graceful curves and worn patina of a everyday wooden utensil, transforming a simple tool into a celebrated artifact of American craftsmanship. Part of a monumental WPA Federal Art Project during the Great Depression, the Index of American Design commissioned over 15,000 such works to document the nation's folk art, crafts, and decorative traditions. Artists m...
About the Artist
American 20th Century
"American 20th Century" is the designation used by major institutions such as the National Gallery of Art (NGA) for anonymous and unidentified artists active in the United States during the twentieth century. The artist's personal identity, early life, and training remain undocumented, reflecting the challenges of attribution for unattributed works from this era. No specific teachers, art schools,...