Andiron 1935 - 1942

Hans Korsch made this drawing of an andiron, likely with pencil and watercolor. What strikes me is the warmth that radiates from it, almost like the afterglow of a fire. The colour is interesting because it's more than simply 'gold'; there's a honeyed yellow, and a little umber to give depth, especially in those carefully delineated shadows. You can almost feel the weight of the metal, the cool smoothness of the surface, despite it being a flat image. I love the way the details are rendered, each turn and flourish of the metal captured with delicate precision. Look at the subtle variations in tone across the surface. There's a real sense of three-dimensionality, of light playing across a tangible object. It makes me think of the drawings of furniture and interiors by the artist Edward Bawden, also capturing the quiet beauty of everyday objects. Korsch, like Bawden, reminds us that even functional items can possess an inherent beauty and invite contemplation.