Arsen Maralian

Arsen Maralian was an artist active during a brief but focused period between 1935 and 1936. Their known work centers exclusively on the Index of American Designs, a major federal arts initiative dedicated to meticulously documenting historical American decorative arts and folk culture. Maralian’s contributions to the Index index fifteen specific designs, reflecting an emphasis on material culture and regional craft traditions.

The works documented by Maralian encompass both functional objects and whimsical folk art. Notable examples include the documentation of a Camphene Lamp and a general Lamp design, alongside specific Pennsylvania German artifacts such as the Pa. German Squirrel Figure, Pa. German Squirrel Figurine, and the Pa. German Toy Bird.

Maralian's output, preserved for its historical and artistic value, is represented in major museum collections. Fifteen of their Index works are held in institutional archives, including the National Gallery of Art. Due to the nature of the project, these Arsen Maralian prints are often accessible as high-quality prints through collections made available in the public domain.