Martin Partyka

Martin Partyka was an artist active during a concentrated period in the mid-1930s, documented specifically between 1935 and 1936. His documented output is associated with the Index of American Design, a project established to create a comprehensive pictorial record of American decorative and folk arts.

Fifteen works attributed to Partyka are represented in museum collections, focusing on detailed documentation drawings of historical American artifacts. These renderings include studies of early American domestic objects and furniture, such as the detailed examination of A Connecticut-type Hadley Chest and related side views, as well as several representations of decorative containers, including Bandbox and Bandbox Design (Eagle and Rabbit).

The significance of Partyka’s contribution is established by the inclusion of his works in major institutional holdings. His works are preserved in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Today, documentation drawings by artists involved in the Index of American Design, such as the Martin Partyka prints, are often held in the public domain and are widely consulted, providing historical context for American decorative arts and making high-quality prints readily available for research.