Artwork
Eryngium Bourgatii
Eryngium Bourgatii 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
Karl Blossfeldt’s 1928 photogravure titled *Eryngium Bourgatii* presents a close‑up view of a single, thorn‑laden stem. Rendered in stark black and white, the image isolates the plant against a light, unadorned background, emphasizing the sharp, metallic quality of its spiky leaves and intricate venation.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on *Eryngium bourgatii*, a species known for its rigid, serrated foliage. By magnifying the plant’s structural details, Blossfeldt invites viewers to consider the inherent geometry of natural forms, suggesting a dialogue between botanical anatomy and artistic abstraction.
Technique & Style
Created through photogravure, the print captures minute textures such as leaf veins with exceptional clarity. This intaglio process, involving a photographic negative transferred onto a copper plate, allows for a high‑contrast, finely rendered image that borders on photographic realism while retaining the tactile qualities of a print.
History & Provenance
Blossfeldt included the image in his 1929 volume *Urformen der Kunst* (Forms of Art), a collection that assembled his systematic studies of plant morphology. The publication helped establish his reputation for merging scientific observation with aesthetic inquiry.
Context
Emerging in the late 1920s, the work aligns with contemporary interests in New Objectivity and the Bauhaus emphasis on functional design. Blossfeldt’s focus on natural structures resonated with movements seeking to uncover universal principles underlying both nature and modern industry.
Legacy
*Eryngium Bourgatii* exemplifies Blossfeldt’s influence on later photographers and designers who explore the intersection of biology and visual art. The image continues to be cited as a reference point for the precise, almost sculptural representation of botanical subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Blossfeldt (13 June 1865 – 9 December 1932) was a German photographer and sculptor.
