Ethel Clarke

Ethel Clarke was an artist active primarily during the years 1938 and 1939. Clarke is primarily known for her documentary work created for the Index of American Designs (IAD), a seminal project initiated under the WPA’s Federal Art Project. The IAD systematically recorded historical American decorative arts and folk art objects, creating precise, high-quality illustrations used for preservation and academic study. Clarke’s output reflects the project's mandate to document American material culture with rigorous accuracy.

Clarke's detailed renderings, which function as visual records of three-dimensional objects, are represented in museum collections at the National Gallery of Art. Seven such studies are held by the institution, documenting diverse examples of American craft and domestic utility. Notable documented subjects include the Bishop Hill: Bridal Box, a rendering of a Glazed Pottery Duck Bottle, an illustration of an Eagle design, and precise drawings of a Toy Bank and a Copper Water Vessel.

The enduring significance of Clarke's contribution lies in the historical accuracy of these records, which offer museum-quality detail for academic research. These historical documents ensure the availability of Ethel Clarke prints and illustrations today. As products of the Federal Art Project, many of these IAD drawings reside in the public domain, making this valuable visual history widely accessible.