Fire Tongs and Shovel c. 1937

Hans Korsch made this drawing, Fire Tongs and Shovel, on paper at an undetermined date. Korsch lived through tumultuous times, including the rise of industrialization and two World Wars. While seemingly simple, this image invites us to consider the cultural values embedded in everyday objects. Before industrialization, blacksmiths and artisans held a respected position in society. Their craft was essential for creating tools and objects of both utility and beauty. The image of the fire tongs and shovel may speak to a nostalgia for a pre-industrial era, when objects were made by hand. The blacksmith was essential to the communal life of the village and small town. Korsch's drawing underscores how everyday tools are intertwined with our sense of history, labor, and cultural identity. It gently urges us to remember a world where functional items were also works of art, reflecting the skill and care of their makers.