Josephine C. Romano

Josephine C. Romano was an artist whose active period spanned the years 1935 to 1939. Her recognized output is exclusively linked to the Index of American Designs, a significant documentation initiative established under the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project (FAP). This project employed hundreds of artists to create a meticulous pictorial inventory of American decorative arts, craft objects, and folk culture before 1900.

Romano’s work within the Index typically comprises detailed, precise renderings designed to capture the material, texture, and historical significance of the chosen objects. Her recorded contributions focus on documenting examples of costume and artifacts, including specific studies titled Doll, Doll - "Rose Bates", Tabernacle, Bolero, and a Jacket.

These original documentation drawings and renderings are preserved in major American institutions, with works by Romano represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. As high-quality prints, these historical documents remain valuable resources for material culture historians. Many of the original illustrations produced for the Index of American Designs are now considered public domain, facilitating wide access to Josephine C. Romano prints for scholarship and study.