Lester Kausch

Lester Kausch was an artist active around 1940, primarily contributing documentary renderings to the Index of American Design. The Index was a crucial federal arts initiative aimed at meticulously documenting historic American decorative arts, architecture, and functional design objects. Kausch’s documented output reflects the project's dedication to detailed, factual representation of material culture.

Six known designs by the artist are represented in museum collections, confirming the highly documentary and precision-focused nature of the work. Kausch rendered a variety of objects, ranging from domestic utility items, such as the Combined Stove and Lantern, to historical fashion and textile studies. The surviving designs include several detailed garment representations, including a Flowered Challis Gown and a precise study titled Silk Gown (Detail).

These technical renderings, representative of museum-quality archival illustration, are held in significant institutional collections, including the National Gallery of Art. Due to their institutional history, many of Lester Kausch prints and designs are now accessible in the public domain, offering researchers high-quality prints for study and reproduction.