John Lang

John Lang was an artist or illustrator active for a brief but focused period between 1940 and 1941. His documented works are associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a federal arts initiative dedicated to the comprehensive documentation of American decorative, folk, and utilitarian artifacts prior to 1900.

Lang’s contribution to the Index involved creating technical, precise renderings of historical objects. This output reflects the IAD’s mission to record the country’s material culture through detailed, objective illustrations.

Five such works are currently represented in museum collections, confirming Lang’s participation in the Index of American Design. These include detailed studies of domestic and functional items, such as the Improved Splint, Plaster Iron, and Bath Tub, alongside illustrations of furnishings titled Boot-jack Chair and Rocking Chair. The official repository for many of these records is the National Gallery of Art. Because they were produced under a federal project, many John Lang prints are now public domain material, providing researchers access to downloadable artwork for study. These works remain valuable historical records, preserved today as high-quality prints in major institutional holdings.