Herbert Russin

Herbert Russin was an artist active around 1936, primarily associated with the Index of American Design, a vast documentation project initiated under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This initiative focused on creating meticulous visual records of historic American decorative and folk arts, placing Russin’s output firmly within the realm of archival visual documentation.

Russin’s work focused specifically on rendering detailed illustrations of early American metalwork and silversmithing objects. Six records of these designs are represented in museum collections, demonstrating the technical precision required by the Index. Five specific pieces documented include the Silver Candlestick with Two Snuffers, Silver Caster, Silver Fork, Silver Hot Water Pot, and Silver Porringer. These drawings serve as permanent records of American decorative arts history.

The work of Herbert Russin is held in significant institutional collections, notably the National Gallery of Art. Because these works were created under a federal project, many of these images reside in the public domain. This accessibility allows institutions and individuals to obtain high-quality prints and archival reproductions. As a result, documentation such as the Herbert Russin prints often feature in modern collections, recognized for their historic value and museum-quality detail.