Fred Hassebrock

Fred Hassebrock was an artist or renderer active during a specific period spanning 1935 through 1939. Their professional output is intrinsically linked to the Index of American Design, a federal art project dedicated to the documentation of American material culture and decorative arts. Hassebrock’s works reflect a meticulous, objective style consistent with the academic requirements of this major governmental initiative.

Fifteen of Hassebrock’s documented renderings are currently represented in museum collections, confirming the quality and historical importance of the work. The full scope of these pieces is housed at the National Gallery of Art. The documented subjects cover a wide array of American artifacts, ranging from domestic and functional objects to tools and textiles. Specific examples include the highly detailed renderings of a Baby Carriage, a Leather Cartridge Case, and a Hacking Axe. More specialized subjects, such as the decorative Tulip Pattern Quilt and a Bookmark, are also preserved in the collection index.

As visual documentation created for the Index of American Design, Hassebrock’s work serves as a critical historical resource. These records, sometimes available as high-quality prints, contribute significantly to scholarship on mid-century governmental art projects and American craft traditions. Today, many of these important Fred Hassebrock prints are accessible in the public domain for research and educational purposes.