Joseph Rothenberg

Joseph Rothenberg was an American artist whose documented career spanned the period 1935 to 1937. His professional activity centered on the Index of American Design, a component of the Federal Art Project dedicated to creating precise visual records of American folk art and decorative objects.

Rothenberg contributed 15 known designs to the Index, focusing on highly detailed renderings of historical utilitarian objects. These documentations emphasize craftsmanship and historical design rather than expressive painting. Representative works held in collections include precise illustrations of a Clock, a Cock Weather Vane, a Horse Weather Vane, a Console Table, and a Pa. German Dower Chest.

The primary institutional collection holding Rothenberg’s Index of American Design works is the National Gallery of Art (NGA). Cataloged as Joseph Rothenberg prints, these detailed visual documents are today often found in the public domain. The availability of downloadable artwork allows researchers and enthusiasts to study these museum-quality records of early American design.