Walter Praefke

Walter Praefke was professionally active during a concentrated period spanning 1935 to 1938. His documented output focuses primarily on detailed documentation and illustration relating to American material culture and design history.

Praefke’s work is characterized by its precise rendering of historical objects, known collectively in institutional holdings as the Index of American Design. Fifteen such documentary index pieces are represented in museum collections. These works meticulously capture the form and texture of functional artifacts, including a detailed illustration of a Cheese Draining Board, renderings of Ox Shoes, documentation of Trade Beads, and studies of a Chopping Knife. A separate rendering of a Doll is also represented among his known works.

The verifiable record of Walter Praefke’s activity is established through the collection holdings of the National Gallery of Art, where these Index of American Design works reside. Due to the nature of their creation and preservation, much of the documentation associated with Walter Praefke prints is now widely accessible as public domain material, ensuring that these historical records are available as high-quality prints for researchers and the public.