Clothes Washer 1940

Alexander Anderson rendered this image of a clothes washer, using watercolor and graphite. The illustration speaks to the industrial era and gendered labor. During the late 19th century, laundry was a task relegated primarily to women, and often lower-class women. Washing machines like this one were marketed as labor-saving devices, yet they still required significant physical effort. One can imagine the repetitive motion, the strain on the body, and the endless cycle of wash, rinse, and dry. Anderson’s illustration freezes a moment, inviting us to consider the lives of those who toiled with such machines. It is a reminder of the intersection of gender, class, and labor in shaping domestic life. The simple, functional design of the washer belies the complex social dynamics it represents. Let this image prompt reflection on the unseen labor that underpins our daily lives.