Handmade Soldering Iron 1939

Harvey Thoss made this drawing of a handmade soldering iron sometime in the 20th century using what looks like graphite and watercolor. I imagine him holding the tool, turning it over in his hand, feeling the weight and balance of it as he decides where to begin drawing. He probably started with the basic outline, trying to capture its overall form. Thoss worked with simple materials, rendering the soldering iron in muted tones. There’s something intimate about the scale, like a close-up portrait. The surface is smooth and delicate, but his lines describe the rougher texture of the actual tool. It reminds me of the drawings done by other artists like Joseph Yoakum, who found beauty in the everyday world around them. Artists are always teaching each other how to look and see. Harvey Thoss is part of this long, ongoing conversation between artists across time.