John Cooke

John Cooke was an artist documented for his activity during the years 1937 and 1938. His output during this short period was dedicated to the Index of American Design, a crucial federal art project established during the Depression era. The Index focused on creating a comprehensive pictorial record of historical American decorative, folk, and utilitarian arts.

Cooke is known for contributing six documented renderings of American material culture to the Index. These works function as precise, historical records of objects spanning various domestic and specialized uses. The items represented in collections include detailed studies of a Flue Shovel, a Reticule, a Woman's Shoe, a Birch Bark Sewing Basket, and a Fire Bucket. These watercolor and graphic works emphasize meticulous detail and accuracy, adhering to the requirements of the Index.

The body of work attributed to John Cooke is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art (NGA). Given their institutional preservation and origin within a public initiative, these historical renderings are frequently available as downloadable artwork or used to produce museum-quality high-quality prints for researchers. Interest in John Cooke prints remains important for those studying 20th-century American art documentation and early American artifact design.