Ethel Dougan

Ethel Dougan was an artist active during a concise period spanning 1935 to 1938. Her documented work suggests participation in large-scale national efforts dedicated to the study and documentation of American material culture, resulting in 15 index of american designs recorded during her active years.

Dougan’s output focused specifically on rendering detailed records of historical objects, a practice vital for preserving the visual history of American decorative and folk arts. Five examples of her documentation are represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. These works include studies of historical textiles, such as Blanket, Afghan, and Afghan (Detail), alongside representations of utilitarian and decorative objects like Butter Mold and the folk art figure Cigar Store Indian.

The preservation of these materials by the National Gallery of Art underscores their historical and artistic value. As many such cultural records are now considered to be in the public domain, there is continuous interest in securing high-quality prints of historical documentation. Ethel Dougan prints serve as important visual records for researchers and collectors interested in early 20th century material culture studies.