Benjamin Resnick

Benjamin Resnick was an American artist active during a concentrated period between 1935 and 1938. His work is primarily associated with the Index of American Design, a comprehensive federal arts project established to document historic American decorative and utilitarian objects through precise documentation. Resnick’s output during this brief span focused on creating detailed visual records of everyday household items, emphasizing accuracy over artistic interpretation.

Fifteen of Resnick’s documentary studies are represented in museum collections, confirming the value of his high-quality contributions to the project. The subjects documented include utilitarian objects such as Bellows, Candlestick, Fork, and Kettle with Spoon. These works are characterized by their clarity and serve as essential historical resources regarding material culture of the period.

Benjamin Resnick’s designs are held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The preservation of these original Benjamin Resnick prints establishes their historical importance in documenting early American design. Given their provenance through federal arts programs, much of this detailed documentation has entered the public domain, making Resnick’s downloadable artwork accessible for both scholarly and general use.