Artwork
Saxifraga aizoon
Saxifraga aizoon 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
Saxifraga aizoon is a 1928 photogravure print by Karl Blossfeldt, a German photographer and sculptor. The work is a characteristic close-up of a plant, emphasizing its structural details.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a Saxifraga aizoon plant in a detailed, black-and-white close-up. The image highlights the plant's textured, overlapping leaves and a central flower bud, showcasing the organic beauty of natural forms.
Technique & Style
Blossfeldt employed photogravure, a printing technique that yields sharp, clear details, consistent with the scientific plant illustration standards of the time. The result resembles a precise, high-contrast shadow drawing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1928, Saxifraga aizoon was published the following year in Blossfeldt's collection Urformen der Kunst (Archetypes of Art), alongside other plant photographs.
Context
Blossfeldt's lifelong fascination with plant growth, shared with his father, influenced his photographic approach. His work bridged artistic appreciation of nature's structures and the scientific tradition of detailed plant documentation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Blossfeldt (13 June 1865 – 9 December 1932) was a German photographer and sculptor.
