Eagle
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 34.6 x 44.5 cm (13 5/8 x 17 1/2 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9837
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Eagle* by Betty Fuerst, captivating watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard, created 1935 and 1942. Measuring 34.6 x 44.5 cm, this work is a gem from the Index of American Design, a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project initiative during the Great Depression. like Fuerst meticulously documented everyday American folk art, crafts, and design motifs to preserve the nation's cultural heritage amid economic hardship. Fuerst's piece exemplifies the project's goal of hyper-realistic reproduction, blending fluid watercolor washes for vibrant feathers and textures...
About the Artist
Betty Fuerst
Betty Fuerst (1905–1984) was an American artist best known for her meticulous watercolor renderings documenting everyday objects of American folk art and craftsmanship as part of the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942. Active primarily during this period, Fuerst contributed dozens of precise illustrations that captured th...