Erwin Schwabe

Erwin Schwabe was an American artist active during a concentrated period in the mid-1930s, with his professional activity documented between 1935 and 1936. His output is critically associated with the Index of American Design, a major visual documentation project established under the Federal Art Project (WPA) to preserve a visual record of historic American decorative and folk art.

Schwabe’s work involved creating meticulous renderings of functional and decorative objects for the Index. His contribution totals approximately fifteen documented designs represented in museum collections. These precise studies serve as vital historical records, cataloging domestic objects and textiles. Works documented by Schwabe include the Cotton Thread Scarf, Crocheted Handbag, and Dress, alongside renderings of household items such as a Teapot and a Comb.

The documentary significance of Schwabe’s contribution is underscored by the permanent housing of the Index of American Design collection, which includes his output, at the National Gallery of Art. As works created under a federally funded initiative, they reside in the public domain, ensuring widespread access for researchers and historians. The availability of these high-quality prints and downloadable artwork files allows for continued study of American design history as preserved through the Federal Art Project.