Drawer Pull c. 1936

Hans Korsch rendered this drawing of a drawer pull, we don’t know exactly when, with pencil and watercolor on paper. The first thing I notice are the small details and linear quality, that gives the drawing precision, but also a lot of charm. The surface has this creamy color, and you can see how the artist built up the forms with thin, transparent layers. Look at the lower handle, the way the light hits it, and how he captured the gradation in value. It's not photorealist, but it is so descriptive. It makes me wonder about the original object, the particular drawer, and the kind of furniture it might belong to. The whole drawing has this sense of care, a real love of the thing. It reminds me of the drawings of technical objects by Eduardo Paolozzi, but with a softer, more whimsical touch. In the end, it feels like a celebration of craft, functionality, and the everyday object.