Katharine Merrill

Katharine Merrill was an artist active during a short, focused period in the late 1930s, with documented activity spanning 1937 through 1939. Her recognized body of work consists primarily of documentation created for the Index of American Design. This specialized project involved the meticulous recording of historical American decorative arts and folk objects.

Nine of Merrill's detailed studies are preserved in museum collections, reflecting a focus on specific artifacts and craftsmanship. Notable works include the related pieces Circus Wagon Figure: Dancing Girl, Circus wagon figure: dancing girl, and Dancing Girl from Spark's Carousel Wagon, all of which document elements of American traveling entertainment and folk sculpture. Further examples of her documentation, which often involved watercolor and gouache techniques, include studies of a Vase and a Bellows.

The verified historical record of Katharine Merrill prints and studies is secured in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. The documentation produced for the Index of American Design is a critical resource for historians and researchers. Because of their origin, these unique records are often available in the public domain and are increasingly digitized for study, providing access to museum-quality representations.