Andiron (one of pair)
1935/1942
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 27.6 x 20.6 cm (10 7/8 x 8 1/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 21 1/2" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8203
Art Historical Context
This graphite drawing by Hans Korsch captures one of a pair of andirons, functional fireplace supports once essential in American homes. Created between 1935 and 1942 as part of the Index of American Design, the measures just 27.6 by 20.6 centimeters yet meticulously records an original object standing 21½ inches high. The Index, a Depression-era initiative, employed artists to produce thousands of such renderings, preserving the appearance of historic decorative arts before they disappeared. Korsch’s precise graphite technique on paperboard allowed for fine detail and tonal subtlety, transla...
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...