Strainer with Funnel

Art Historical Context

**Strainer with Funnel is a meticulous graphite drawing by Yolandeasser, created around 1936. Measuring 23.7 x 28.8 cm, this work captures the elegant simplicity of a common American kitchen tool—a strainer integrated with a funnel—likely by everyday household objects from the early 20th century.ed in graphite on paper, Delasser's technique emphasizes fine lines and subtle shading to highlight the object's functional form, textures, and subtle curves, turning utilitarian design into an artistic study. This piece is part of the *Index of American Design*, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942. During the Great Depression, over 200 artists documented thousands of American folk art and craft objects through precise renderings, preserving cultural heritage amid economic hardship. Delasser's contribution reflects the project's mission to celebrate vernacular design, from colonial tools to regional crafts, fostering national pride in everyday artistry. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W Department, it invites visitors to appreciate how ordinary items embody American ingenuity and craftsmanship, bridging art history with daily life.

About the Artist

Yolande Delasser · 1855–present

Yolande Delasser was an American artist active during the mid-1930s, best known for her meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Amid the Great Depression, this ambitious New Deal initiative commissioned artists to document America's rich heritage of folk art and utilitarian objects through precise watercolor ren...