Helen Hobart

Helen Hobart was active in documentation and design illustration during a focused period between 1935 and 1938. Her known body of work consists of fifteen documented items associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a federal art project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This massive undertaking focused on creating precise, factual records of early American decorative and folk arts, placing Hobart within a crucial effort to document historical design.

Hobart's contributions reflect the IAD's mandate to preserve visual records of American craft heritage. Her works represented in collections are meticulous renderings of functional and historical objects, demonstrating competence in detailed illustrative technique. Noteworthy examples include the Camphene Lamp, a detailed study of Wall Paper, a Compote, and records of folk objects such as a Horse and Rider Weather Vane and a Cookie Cutter.

Fifteen of Hobart’s designs are documented in museum collections, confirming her specific role within this important governmental documentation effort. These historical records, often circulated as Helen Hobart prints or drawings, are housed within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the federal origin of the Index of American Design project, much of this work falls into the public domain, making high-quality prints accessible for research and educational purposes.