Hose Holder

Art Historical Context

William Fergusson’s *Hose Holder* (c. 1936) captures the humble elegance of an everyday American garden tool in watercolor and graphite on paper. Measuring 27.8 x 35.4 cm, this precise rendering showcases a functional object—likely a coiled metal or wooden holder for watering hoses—elevating utilitarian design to an art form. Fergusson’s skilled hand brings out intricate details, from curving forms to subtle textures, inviting viewers to appreciate the craftsmanship of ordinary life. Created as part of the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), this work reflects the 1930s effort to document and celebrate America’s folk and decorative arts amid the Great Depression. Artists like Fergusson produced thousands of such illustrations to preserve cultural heritage, ensuring that vernacular objects weren’t lost to time. Housed in the National Gallery of Art’s CG-W department, it embodies national pride in indigenous design traditions. The choice of watercolor and graphite allowed for luminous color washes and fine-line precision, ideal for faithfully reproducing three-dimensional forms on paper. This technique not only highlights the hose holder’s practical beauty but also underscores the Index’s mission: to honor America’s creative spirit through meticulous, accessible artistry. A charming reminder of backyard ingenuity!