Artwork

a Andromeda floribunda; b Vaccinium corymbosum; c Acanthus mollis

Karl Blossfeldt , 1928

a Andromeda floribunda; b Vaccinium corymbosum; c Acanthus mollis is a print by Karl Blossfeldt. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1928, this photogravure presents three magnified botanical studies: the delicate, curved inflorescence of *Andromeda floribunda*, the rounded leaf of *Vaccinium corymbosum*, and the sharply veined foliage of *Acanthus mollis*. Rendered in stark black‑and‑white, the images isolate each specimen’s form, emphasizing texture, line and structural rhythm without any surrounding context.

Subject & Meaning

The work isolates the intrinsic geometry of three distinct plant species, inviting comparison of their differing morphologies. By presenting each organism as an abstracted object, the piece suggests a dialogue between natural growth patterns and the principles of design, highlighting how botanical structures can be read as visual compositions in their own right.

Technique & Style

Blossfeldt employed a camera obscura to capture extreme close‑ups, then transferred the negatives onto a copper plate for photogravure printing. This process yields deep tonal contrast and fine detail, rendering surface texture and vein architecture with a sculptural clarity that blurs the line between photography and printmaking.

History & Provenance

The print formed part of Blossfeldt’s series that later appeared in the 1929 volume *Urformen der Kunst* (Forms of Art). Produced during his tenure at the Bauhaus, the image reflects the institution’s interest in the intersection of craft, nature and modernist aesthetics. Original copies are held in several European museum collections.

Context

At the time of its creation, German avant‑garde circles were exploring the formal qualities of the natural world as a source for modern design. Blossfeldt’s focus on botanical precision resonated with contemporaneous movements that sought to derive artistic principles from scientific observation and industrial reproducibility.