Betty Fuerst

Betty Fuerst was an American artist whose documented career spanned the years 1935 through 1938. Her activity during this period places her firmly within the context of federal arts initiatives of the Depression era, specifically the Index of American Design (IAD). The IAD was a significant New Deal project dedicated to creating a pictorial record of American material culture and decorative arts.

Fuerst contributed fifteen documented works to the index, focusing on detailed, documentary renderings of historical objects and folk art. This output demonstrates a precise, illustrative style consistent with the project’s mission to record historical designs accurately. These Betty Fuerst prints and drawings often focused on specific items that reflected regional or historical significance.

Her work is represented in major institutions, establishing the enduring scholarly relevance of her contributions to the IAD. Fifteen of her renderings are preserved in museum collections, including the National Gallery of Art. Notable works attributed to Fuerst include detailed studies such as Dalmatian, Dress, Eagle, Figurehead, and Shaker Case. As many of these records documenting early American crafts now reside in the public domain, they are frequently consulted by researchers and reproduced as high-quality prints for public display.