Fire Tongs and Shovel

Art Historical Context

Created around 1937 as part of the Index of American Design, Hans Korsch’s *Fire Tongs and Shovel* captures the quiet dignity of everyday household tools. This federal initiative, launched during the Great Depression, employed artists to document American decorative arts and crafts through precise drawings, preserving a visual record of objects that might otherwise have been lost to time. Korsch rendering of these simple fireplace implements highlights their functional elegance and the handcrafted traditions behind them. Rendered in graphite on paperboard, the drawing demonstrates the careful observation and technical skill required by the project. Measuring just under 11 by 9 inches, the work transforms utilitarian metal tools into subjects worthy of close study, celebrating the beauty found in ordinary American design. Such pieces served both as artistic records and educational resources, connecting viewers to the nation’s material heritage. Today, this work resides in the National Gallery of Art’s collection, offering a window into 1930s efforts to honor and safeguard cultural identity through art.

About the Artist

Hans Korsch · 1855–present

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...