Alfonso Umana

Alfonso Umana was an artist whose active documented period spanned the mid-to-late 1930s, specifically between 1935 and 1940. Umana’s artistic contribution is centered within the scope of the Index of American Designs, a federal initiative dedicated to documenting historical American decorative and folk arts.

A total of twelve designs attributed to Umana are represented in major institutional collections, confirming the importance of their work in this extensive documentation project. These historical renderings are now preserved by the National Gallery of Art. Umana’s documented output focuses primarily on textiles and graphic ornamentation, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail required by the Index.

Specific recorded works include the design for a Hooked Rug, a detailed rendering of Wall Paper, and three distinct submissions cataloged as Wall Paper Border. The nature of this work means that Alfonso Umana prints are valuable historical records of early American material culture. The preservation of these works ensures that they are often available as high-quality prints. Many of these older graphic designs are now considered part of the public domain, guaranteeing continued accessibility for researchers.