Karl Joubert

Karl Joubert was an American artist whose documented career spanned the short period between 1935 and 1937. His entire known body of work is associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a seminal project organized under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The IAD employed hundreds of artists to create meticulous, often life-sized, renderings of American decorative and folk arts, documenting material culture before 1900.

Joubert contributed 15 works to the index, focusing primarily on utilitarian domestic objects and metalwork. These detailed studies function less as expressive artworks and more as precise, technical documentation of early American craftsmanship. Representative examples of his drawings and prints include Coffee Roaster, Pewter Teapot, Silver Beaker, Silver Tankard, and Warming Pan.

Fifteen works by Karl Joubert relating to the Index of American Design are represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Due to their origins as federal project output, these records are often available in the public domain, allowing for widespread access to downloadable artwork and historical reference. The resulting renderings provide essential visual references for scholars and are frequently utilized for creating museum-quality reproductions and high-quality prints today.