L. B. Hartmann

L. B. Hartmann was a designer or draftsman active during a brief but focused period spanning 1935 to 1940. Their documented output is primarily associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Progress Administration initiative focused on creating a visual archive of decorative, folk, and utilitarian arts in America.

Hartmann’s documented contribution to the IAD consists of nine index of american designs represented in museum collections. These works emphasize precise, detailed rendering, typical of the project’s mission to document historical objects with archival accuracy. The specific works attributed to Hartmann focus on industrial and functional architecture, including designs related to various forms of bells.

Representative works held in collections include the drawings Church Bell, Locomotive Bell, and Street Car Bell, alongside two general entries titled Bell. These examples demonstrate the artist’s commitment to cataloging specific mechanical and community fixtures of the period.

The legacy of Hartmann’s work is preserved within the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Recognized for its historical and artistic merit, this work exemplifies museum-quality documentation. Today, much of the Index of American Design material, including L. B. Hartmann prints, is categorized within the public domain and widely available as high-quality prints or downloadable artwork for study.