Artwork
Achillea clypeolata
Achillea clypeolata 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
Achillea clypeolata is a 1928 photogravure print by Karl Blossfeldt, a German artist known for capturing detailed, close-up studies of plant life.
Subject & Meaning
The print focuses on a cluster of Achillea clypeolata flowers, highlighting their structural forms, fuzzy centers, large round petals, and adjacent thick, smooth leaves, reflecting Blossfeldt's fascination with organic growth patterns.
Technique & Style
Executed in black and white, the photogravure showcases Blossfeldt's meticulous technique, emphasizing stark contrasts between dark shadows and bright highlights, while capturing minute textures on petals and leaves with remarkable clarity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1928, Achillea clypeolata was later featured in Blossfeldt's influential 1929 publication Urformen der Kunst (Archetypes of Art), which showcased his plant photography and its emphasis on natural forms.
Context
Blossfeldt's work, including this piece, was influenced by his family's interest in the natural world, aligning with early 20th-century artistic explorations of nature's structural beauty.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Blossfeldt (13 June 1865 – 9 December 1932) was a German photographer and sculptor.
