D.J. Grant

D.J. Grant was an artist active during a concise period spanning the late 1930s and early 1940s, with documented output dating from 1939 to 1942. Grant’s body of work consists primarily of highly detailed, descriptive studies of utilitarian objects and American folk designs, characteristic of projects focused on documenting historical American material culture.

Five such index of American designs are represented in museum collections, confirming Grant’s systematic approach to visual recording. These works include precise renditions of objects such as the Coffee Grinder, the Brass Key, and the Iron Pot Hook. Grant also recorded more elaborate folk art pieces, notably the Market Basket and the detailed study Toy Bank: Mule and Manger.

The documentation of D.J. Grant’s work is established through its inclusion in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art (NGA). The works are essential references for the preservation of historical American design. Today, these documentary D.J. Grant prints and drawings are often available as downloadable artwork. As visual resources held in institutional collections, the designs are frequently transferred to the public domain, allowing for the creation of high-quality prints for research and educational purposes.