Artwork
Picea excelsa
Picea excelsa 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, *Picea excelsa* is a black‑and‑white photogravure by German artist Karl Blossfeldt. The image presents two slender, textured stems that rise upward, each terminating in an irregular, spiky crown reminiscent of a mushroom‑like form. The work isolates the natural surface details, rendering the plant’s roughness and minute irregularities with striking clarity.
Subject & Meaning
Although the composition depicts what appears to be plant material, the focus lies not on botanical identification but on the intrinsic structural qualities of the forms. By magnifying the stems and their jagged tips, Blossfeldt draws attention to the interplay of growth patterns and surface texture, inviting viewers to contemplate the aesthetic potential inherent in ordinary natural objects.
Technique & Style
The piece was produced using the photogravure process, a method that transfers a photographic image onto a copper plate for intaglio printing.
The piece was produced using the photogravure process, a method that transfers a photographic image onto a copper plate for intaglio printing. This technique allows for deep tonal range and fine detail, which Blossfeldt exploits to render each bump, crack, and edge with precision. The stark monochrome palette emphasizes form over color, aligning with his broader practice of close‑up botanical studies.
History & Provenance
After its creation, *Picea excelsa* was included in Blossfeldt’s first major portfolio, *Urformen der Kunst*, published in 1929. The work later entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains accessible to the public as part of the museum’s holdings of early 20th‑century photographic prints.
Context
Blossfeldt’s interest in plant morphology was inherited from his father, who also pursued natural studies. Operating at the intersection of photography and sculpture, he sought to reveal the architectural logic of flora, a concern that resonated with contemporary movements emphasizing form, function, and the scientific observation of nature.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Blossfeldt (13 June 1865 – 9 December 1932) was a German photographer and sculptor.
