Grain Scoop c. 1939

This is Mary Hansen’s drawing of a grain scoop. The original object, now lost to us, was likely carved from a single piece of wood, using hand tools like gouges and knives. The drawing conveys the scoop’s simple form, and the way the grain would have run through the wood. It captures the texture and patina that comes with use. The scoop’s slightly rough surface speaks to its status as a purely functional object, with no aspiration to fine art. Hansen’s drawing encourages us to think about the work that went into making and using the scoop. It is a celebration of vernacular form; the anonymous but skilled handcraft that sustained life. It also makes us think about gendered labor; it was most likely women who would have been using this implement in the fields. In a humble object like this, we can see a whole world of social relations at play.