Maude Valle

Maude Valle was an artist active during a concentrated period in the mid-1930s, documented primarily between 1935 and 1936. Her known output is intrinsically linked to the Index of American Designs, a component of the Federal Art Project dedicated to documenting American folk and decorative arts. Fifteen works related to this initiative are associated with Valle.

The subject matter of Valle’s documented contribution focuses exclusively on religious iconography and devotional objects, specifically the traditional New Mexican forms of Santos and Retablos. Works held in collections include Retablo (Our Lady of Carmel), alongside multiple renderings titled Santo and Santos Retablos. These pieces function as detailed studies preserving the visual record of historic American material culture.

The institutional credibility of Valle's work is established by its inclusion in major American holdings, notably the National Gallery of Art, where her Index of American Designs contributions are preserved. These renderings provide valuable insight into early American devotional craft. Given their status, Maude Valle prints are frequently available through museum collections, often provided as high-quality prints or downloadable artwork now falling within the public domain.