Elsie Wein

Elsie Wein was an artist whose documented career spanned the period 1935 through 1939. Their professional output is intrinsically tied to the Index of American Design (IAD), a vital federal arts initiative established during the New Deal era to document and preserve the visual record of American decorative and folk art heritage. Wein’s known body of work consists of detailed studies, focused primarily on documenting functional objects and ceramics.

The documentation produced by Wein includes precise renderings of utilitarian earthenware, such as studies titled Jar, Crock, and Jug. Nine pieces associated with the Index of American Design are attributed to Wein. These drawings served as crucial visual records of material culture, enabling the subsequent study and widespread distribution of these designs. Today, many of these historical IAD documents are available in the public domain.

The institutional significance of Wein’s contribution is affirmed by the preservation of their work in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. These accurate and detailed studies remain important references for historians and curators. The visual records created by the artist are frequently reproduced, making Elsie Wein prints available for academic and educational purposes, often accessible as high-quality prints derived from the original collection items.