Harold Smith

Harold Smith was an artist active during a concise period spanning 1935 to 1938. His output is cataloged under the designation "10 index of american designs," reflecting a specialized focus on documenting historical decorative and utilitarian objects, typically associated with the comprehensive art documentation projects of the mid-20th century.

Smith’s work focused exclusively on detailed studies of American material culture. The documented pieces held in museum collections reflect this interest in design and historical documentation, featuring representations of a Canteen, a Mirror, and a Civil War Field Uniform. His body of represented work also includes multiple studies of a Chair.

These historical documentation records are held in major institutional collections, establishing their academic importance. Works attributed to the artist are represented in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the nature of this project, much of this material is now available in the public domain, offering access to high-quality prints for researchers and historians interested in American design history. The availability of Harold Smith prints supports the continued study of folk art documented during the period.