Mae Szilvasy

Mae Szilvasy was an artist active between 1935 and 1936, primarily known for producing illustrations for the Index of American Designs. This federal project was dedicated to documenting historical American decorative and folk arts, placing Szilvasy's output within the context of New Deal-era historical preservation and visual documentation.

Szilvasy’s work focused heavily on textile and apparel studies. Fifteen illustrations of American design objects are represented in museum collections, confirming her contribution to the survey. Her documented renderings of historical garments include detailed studies of an Apron, a Coat, a Corset, a Dress, and a Dressing Sacque. These meticulous illustrations function as vital records for design history.

Her work is held in prestigious institutions, establishing her historical importance as a documentary artist. The National Gallery of Art maintains several of the Mae Szilvasy prints, ensuring the preservation of these resources. Given their federal origins, many of these historical documents are now in the public domain, often reproduced today as high-quality prints for scholarly research and appreciation.