Artwork
a Cirsium canum; b Phlomis umbrosa; c salvia
a Cirsium canum; b Phlomis umbrosa; c salvia 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 distinct botanical specimens—Cirsium canum, Phlomis umbrosa, and a salvia species—rendered in close-up. The image isolates each plant, emphasizing form and texture through stark contrasts of light and dark, characteristic of Blossfeldt’s approach to natural detail.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes a spiny thistle head, a broad, rounded leaf of Phlomis, and a cluster of tender salvia buds. By isolating these forms, the piece invites contemplation of plant morphology, highlighting the diversity of growth patterns and the intrinsic geometry found in everyday flora.
Technique & Style
Blossfeldt employed the photogravure process, transferring a photographic negative onto a copper plate and printing it with ink. This method yields deep chiaroscuro effects, rendering shadows and highlights with a graphic intensity that accentuates surface texture and structural lines, akin to a precise sketch.
History & Provenance
The print formed part of Blossfeldt’s systematic study of organic structures that culminated in his 1929 volume *Urformen der Kunst*. Produced during his tenure at the Bauhaus, the image reflects his collaboration with the institution’s emphasis on the intersection of art, design, and natural science.
Context
In the late 1920s, German avant‑garde circles explored the visual potential of scientific observation. Blossfeldt’s botanical series aligned with contemporary interests in functionalism and the aesthetic of the natural world, contributing to a broader discourse on form as a bridge between art and biology.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Blossfeldt (13 June 1865 – 9 December 1932) was a German photographer and sculptor.
