Hay Fork 1938

Albert Geuppert made this drawing of a hay fork, a humble farm tool, sometime in the twentieth century. The implement would have been forged from iron, likely by a local blacksmith. The making of such a tool would involve heating the metal in a forge, then shaping it with hammer and anvil. The tines are carefully curved and brought to a point, perfect for lifting and moving hay. The dark color and rough texture suggest the marks of the forge, the intense heat, and the repeated blows of the hammer. In its original context, this hay fork was an essential component of agricultural labor, tied to the rhythms of the seasons, the raising of livestock, and the production of food. Geuppert’s drawing elevates this utilitarian object, asking us to consider the value of labor and the beauty inherent in well-made tools. It reminds us that craft is not separate from art, but deeply intertwined with our material world.