Andiron
c. 1953
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 29.3 x 23.1 cm (11 9/16 x 9 1/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 22" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.7930
Art Historical Context
This watercolor and graphite rendering by Hans Korsch captures an andiron, a traditional fireplace support used to hold logs above the hearth. Created around 1953 as part of the Index of American Design at the National Gallery of Art, the work measures roughly 11 ½ by 9 inches and depicts an original object standing 22 inches high. Rendered with precise line work and subtle washes, the drawing highlights the object’s functional form and decorative details, transforming a utilitarian tool into a study of American craftsmanship. The Index of American Design project documented everyday decorativ...
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...