Charles Criswell

Charles Criswell was documented as an active artist during a brief period between 1935 and 1936. Their known output centers specifically on the documentation of American design history, evidenced by the classification of their work under the index of american designs. This focus resulted in detailed studies of historical apparel and accessories.

Fifteen works attributed to Criswell are represented in major collections, establishing the artist's role in the archival effort of the mid-1930s. The National Gallery of Art holds several of these designs. Documented works emphasize clothing and textiles, including the Cape, Dress, Neck Buckle, Suit, and Woman's Coat.

The meticulously recorded designs provide valuable insight into historical fashion aesthetics. The works, which often become part of the public domain due to their nature as governmental records, are frequently sought after for research. Today, Charles Criswell prints of these architectural and textile documents are often made available as museum-quality, high-quality prints, providing royalty-free access to these historical studies.