Louis Maldarelli

Louis Maldarelli was an artist active during the mid-1930s, documenting historical design objects between 1935 and 1937. Their known body of work consists largely of detailed documentation related to the "index of american designs," reflecting a focus on material culture, specifically historical textiles and apparel.

Eight examples of Maldarelli's work related to the index of american designs are preserved in major public institutions. Their inclusion in the collection of the National Gallery of Art establishes their significance as historical documentation. Works represented include renderings of functional and decorative attire such as a Vest, a Doll's Suit and Hat, a Man's Coat, and multiple entries documenting the design of a Waistcoat.

The technical rendering visible in these works provides valuable insight into historical American aesthetics. The precision required for these museum-quality documents ensured their preservation within national archives. Today, these Louis Maldarelli prints, often existing as original documentation, are frequently made available in the public domain for historical and academic research, sometimes reproduced as high-quality prints.