John Koehl

John Koehl was an artist active between 1935 and 1941. His documented professional output is characterized entirely by his contributions to the Index of American Design (IAD), a comprehensive Federal Art Project initiative established during the Depression era to document early American decorative and folk arts.

Koehl’s work focused on producing precise, detailed renderings of historical objects across various media. Thirteen such designs attributed to Koehl are represented in major collections. These works document diverse categories of American craft, including functional and ceremonial objects. Examples of the documentation preserved include the renderings of a Bridal Chest, a Picture Frame, a military Certificate (army discharge), and a Whiskey Canteen. Koehl also contributed specialized documentation of Pennsylvania German folk art, specifically related to Fractur (Illuminated Writing).

The entirety of Koehl’s verifiable oeuvre, totaling 13 designs, is held within the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This body of work provides a critical record of American material culture. As these government-commissioned works often reside in the public domain, downloadable artwork and high-quality prints of John Koehl's prints remain accessible for researchers, historians, and designers studying the period.