Edward White

Edward White was an artist active during a focused period in the mid-1930s, with work documented between 1935 and 1936. Their documented output consists entirely of detailed studies and renderings created for the Index of American Design, a federally supported initiative intended to compile a comprehensive visual record of American decorative and folk arts.

White is represented in museum collections by fifteen such index designs. These detailed historical studies provide valuable museum-quality documentation of specific artifacts. The focus of the renderings was on material culture and everyday objects, ranging from domestic textiles to personal accessories.

Specific works preserved include studies of a Coverlet, a Powder Horn, and renderings of ceramic and glass objects such as a Barber's Bottle and a Blue Compote. Also represented is a detailed illustration of a Brooch. The collection of works by Edward White, including the original studies often used to create Edward White prints, is held by the National Gallery of Art. Today, historical reference materials of this type often enter the public domain, providing researchers broad access to these critical records of American design history.