Erwin Stenzel

Erwin Stenzel was an artist active between 1935 and 1942, contributing documentation to the Index of American Designs, a significant project dedicated to recording historic American decorative and folk arts. Stenzel’s verifiable output focuses on detailed studies of domestic textiles and everyday artifacts, reflecting the project’s goal of preserving unique components of American material culture.

The artist is represented by eleven works held in major public institutions. These pieces demonstrate a meticulous approach to documenting patterns and structures. Works attributed to Stenzel include studies titled Ornament and Chintz, alongside depictions of objects such as Rag Doll, Doll, and Afghan Throw.

The documented contributions of Erwin Stenzel are preserved in the collections of the National Gallery of Art, confirming their historical and artistic significance as museum-quality records. As part of the Index of American Designs, Stenzel's illustrations are often classified as public domain material, ensuring that high-quality prints of Erwin Stenzel prints remain accessible for researchers, historians, and educational purposes.