Charles Caseau

Charles Caseau was an artist active in 1935, known for his association with the Index of American Design. Operating under the umbrella of federal arts programs in the United States, the Index aimed to create a comprehensive visual survey of historic American decorative and folk arts created prior to 1900. Caseau’s contribution involved producing highly detailed, accurate renderings of these historical artifacts.

Caseau’s documented works primarily focus on motifs found on utilitarian ceramics. Fifteen index records are attributed to the artist, which typically take the form of watercolor or tempera renderings used to document patterns and forms. These precise studies demonstrate Caseau’s commitment to capturing the delicate details of early American craftsmanship.

Specific works represented in museum holdings include detailed illustrations of ceramic patterns such as Bird Decorations for Stoneware, Bird Decorations on Jug, and multiple variations titled Bird Decorations on Stoneware Crock. These examples illustrate the style and historical context of decorative art objects often overlooked by traditional fine art studies.

The documentation works of Charles Caseau are permanently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to their origins in a federal documentation project, many of these detailed renderings are now in the public domain, ensuring that downloadable artwork remains accessible to researchers and enthusiasts of decorative arts history. These detailed records are increasingly sought after today for reproduction as high-quality prints.