Fire Tongs and Shovel
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 29 x 22.9 cm (11 7/16 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.10285
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 tech...
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...