Walter Hochstrasser

Walter Hochstrasser was an artist active during the mid-1930s, with his documented work dating specifically between 1935 and 1937. Hochstrasser’s output is entirely tied to the Index of American Designs, a major initiative focused on the detailed documentation of American historical and decorative arts.

Hochstrasser is represented in museum collections, including the National Gallery of Art, with fifteen works attributed to the Index of American Designs. The documented pieces highlight a focus on American folk art objects, including multiple illustrations of the Cigar Store Indian and the detailed rendering of the Pa. German Cake Mold. These precise documentary studies, often available as Walter Hochstrasser prints, provide valuable insight into early American decorative traditions. As works created under government initiatives, these designs are frequently found in the public domain and are widely sought after today as high-quality prints for study and display.