Max Soltmann

Max Soltmann was active in American art documentation during a brief but historically significant period spanning 1936 and 1937. Soltmann contributed to the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Progress Administration initiative established to create a visual record of the United States’ decorative, folk, and utilitarian arts history. The project required artists to produce highly accurate, detailed renderings of objects, serving as a comprehensive pictorial survey of material culture.

Soltmann’s documented output focuses heavily on early American domestic objects, particularly those associated with Pennsylvania German tradition. Works represented in museum collections include detailed renderings such as the Pa. German Dish and Pa. German Pie Dish, emphasizing traditional forms and surface decoration. Other documented pieces include functional items and metalware, notably the Box with Lid, the Toleware Coffee Pot, and the Toleware Tin Coffee Pot.

At least fifteen of Soltmann’s index of American designs are preserved in institutional collections, most notably at the National Gallery of Art. The precision required for the IAD means that these Max Soltmann prints serve as invaluable historical references. Due to their governmental origins, many of these detailed drawings reside in the public domain, allowing institutions to provide museum-quality imagery for research and study.