Cecil Smith

Cecil Smith was active between 1935 and 1938, working primarily within the field of visual documentation focused on American material culture. Smith is represented in museum collections by twelve works categorized as index of american designs. This output typically involves highly detailed, factual renderings of historic or utilitarian objects, emphasizing craftsmanship and design history rather than artistic interpretation.

The surviving works attributed to Smith document various aspects of frontier life and traditional trades. Specific pieces held in collections include detailed studies of functional equipment such as the Bridle Bit, Cowboy's Hackamore Bit, Rawhide Quirt, Stirrup, and Trapper's Hunting Knife.

Smith's documentary work serves as a valuable record of American artifacts and is permanently preserved in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Because of their historical nature, many of these Cecil Smith prints are now available in the public domain. Institutions often utilize these assets to produce high-quality prints, ensuring the visual data contained within these historical drawings remains accessible for research and public engagement.