Robert Clark

Robert Clark was active for a brief but intensive period between 1935 and 1940. His documented output consists primarily of detailed designs and studies focused on documenting historical American artifacts, likely stemming from federal arts initiatives of the Depression era.

Clark is represented by thirteen works described as "index of american designs," which meticulously catalog utilitarian objects and folk art. These precise documentations demonstrate an emphasis on form, material texture, and historical preservation. Notable works represented in museum collections include studies of functional items such as the Cane Head or Handle and Brass Andirons, as well as domestic tools like the Sewing Bird. Also documented is the folk art object Negro Mammy Bank.

Thirteen of Robert Clark’s designs are preserved in institutional holdings, most notably in the comprehensive collections of the National Gallery of Art. These holdings establish Clark’s significance as a documentarian of American material culture. Today, many of these historical renderings reside in the public domain. Researchers and enthusiasts often seek high-quality prints of these meticulous studies. The availability of downloadable artwork allows broad access to these precise documentations, and museum-quality renderings by Robert Clark are frequently sought by researchers focused on the material history of the United States.