V.L. Vance

V.L. Vance was active between 1935 and 1940, working as a contributor to the Index of American Designs (IAD). This extensive project, established under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), employed artists to document and record examples of American decorative arts, historical artifacts, and folk objects found across the country. Vance’s documented output consists of fifteen individual designs recorded for this critical federal arts project.

The focus of Vance’s work aligns strictly with the IAD’s mission, emphasizing accurate, detailed rendering of material culture rather than fine art painting. The studies reflect a wide range of functional and decorative artifacts spanning various eras of American design. Documented examples include illustrations of items such as a Bottle, a Covered Mug, and a Glass, alongside larger or more complex pieces like the Cast Iron Owl Hitching Post and an Amethyst Glass Bowl. These meticulously executed documents are valued records of American craft and design history.

The integrity and factual nature of Vance's documentation establish them as a significant contributor to the cultural preservation efforts of the mid-twentieth century. Examples of the artist’s work are preserved in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of their origin under the federally funded WPA, many V.L. Vance prints and documented designs are considered public domain, offering institutions and researchers royalty-free access to these historical records. Today, these high-quality prints and downloadable artwork are frequently utilized for academic purposes, providing a museum-quality look into America’s decorative arts past.