Joseph Mitry

Joseph Mitry was an artist active during a concentrated period between 1940 and 1941. Mitry is known for contributing detailed renderings to the Index of American Design (IAD), a seminal federal arts project established to document and preserve the visual history of American decorative arts, craft, and material culture.

Eleven works attributed to Mitry are represented in museum collections, reflecting his focused output in the field of design documentation. These pieces typically record historical domestic objects, often rendered in watercolor or gouache to capture texture and detail. Specific works documented include a Candlestick, Dish, Goblet, Compote, and a Dessert Dish. These meticulously detailed designs serve as museum-quality records of early American craftsmanship.

Mitry’s works are preserved in significant institutional holdings, including the collection of the National Gallery of Art (NGA). As pieces created under a federal project, many of these images reside in the public domain, allowing researchers and enthusiasts to access downloadable artwork. Joseph Mitry prints and design renderings are valuable resources for the study of 20th-century documentation projects and historical American design.