Andiron (one of pair) c. 1937

This drawing of an andiron, one of a pair, was created by Hans Korsch; we don't know exactly when. What strikes me first is the precision of the lines and shapes, creating a sense of architectural planning on a small scale. Look closely, and you'll see a kind of exploded view, where the andiron is presented in two parts. The top part shows the detailed ornamentation, and then the lower part gives you its foundation. The lines are so clean, so crisp, that they almost feel like a technical drawing, more about function than expression. But then you notice the slight imperfections, the almost-but-not-quite symmetry, and it becomes something else. It reminds me of the work of Agnes Martin, who used grids and lines to make work that's not really about representation, but about feeling and space. It's like Korsch is using the andiron as a jumping-off point to explore symmetry and the beauty of the mundane. Art isn't always about grand gestures; sometimes, it's about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.