Fire Tongs and Shovel

Art Historical Context

Created around 1937, Hans Korsch’s “Fire Tongs and Shovel” belongs to the Index of American Design, a nationwide effort to record the nation’s decorative arts and everyday objects with meticulous accuracy. Rendered in delicate layers of watercolor and graphite on paperboard, the drawing captures the simple, functional forms of hearth tools that once stood beside countless American fireplaces. At roughly 11 by 9 inches, the compact sheet invites close looking, turning ordinary implements into subjects worthy of preservation. The choice of medium is especially effective here: graphite provides ...

About the Artist

Hans Korsch

Hans Korsch was an American artist active during the mid-20th century, primarily around 1935 to the early 1950s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious New Deal program employed artists to document everyday American folk art and design objects through precise watercolor renderi...