Fire Tongs and Shovel

Art Historical Context

Created around 1937, *Fire Tongs and Shovel* belongs to the Index of American Design, a New Deal initiative that employed artists to document the nation’s decorative arts and everyday objects. Hans Korsch’s precise rendering captures two humble hearth tools with the care usually reserved for fine furniture or silver, reflecting the project’s goal of preserving America’s material heritage during the Great Depression. Executed in watercolor and graphite on paperboard, the work combines delicate color washes with crisp graphite lines to record form, texture, and subtle wear. This methodical technique allowed Index artists to produce accurate, reproducible images that could serve as both historical records and sources of inspiration for contemporary designers. Today the drawing offers viewers a quiet appreciation for the beauty of functional objects. Its modest subject and meticulous execution remind us how ordinary tools once embodied craftsmanship and daily life in American homes.

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...