Ingrid Selmer-Larsen

Ingrid Selmer-Larsen was an artist active during a concentrated period between 1935 and 1936. Her primary documented output consists of work for the Index of American Design (IAD), a major federal project dedicated to cataloging historical American decorative arts and folk crafts prior to 1900. Selmer-Larsen’s contributions involved meticulous visual documentation, focusing on the preservation and rendering of detail in functional items and historical artifacts.

Fifteen works attributed to Ingrid Selmer-Larsen for the Index of American Design are represented in permanent museum collections. These documentations are held in significant institutions, most notably the National Gallery of Art. Specific examples of her documented subjects include historical textile and domestic items, such as the Knitted Rug and the Man's Apron, alongside renderings of unique artifacts like the Shaker Kerchief. She also documented maritime subjects, evidenced by her studies titled Figurehead and Figurehead: Indian.

These comprehensive visual records serve as essential references for cultural historians. Because these works are preserved in prominent collections, high-quality prints and reproductions of Ingrid Selmer-Larsen's prints are widely utilized for research and study, ensuring the continued accessibility of this important public domain material.