Carpet Stretching Device 1939

Alexander Anderson created this watercolor and graphite drawing entitled "Carpet Stretching Device" in 1938. It is part of the Index of American Design, a collection of images of American material culture. Born in 1855, Anderson straddled the 19th and 20th centuries, a period of immense social and technological change. This drawing invites us to consider labor and domesticity in a rapidly industrializing America. The carpet stretching device, rendered with careful detail, speaks to the unseen labor often performed by women in the home, and perhaps to the economic shifts impacting domestic service during the Great Depression. While seemingly mundane, this object and its representation highlight the intersection of gender, class, and labor. It prompts us to reflect on the stories embedded in everyday objects and the lives of those who used them. How does this image challenge or reinforce traditional representations of domestic life and labor?