Who painted Physalis Alkekengi?

Physalis Alkekengi was painted by Alois Pokorny in 1856.

Where can I see Physalis Alkekengi?

Physalis Alkekengi is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Physalis Alkekengi?

Physalis Alkekengi is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Physalis Alkekengi

Alois Pokorny , 1856

Physalis Alkekengi is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Alois Pokorny. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The artist pressed the actual plant between metal plates, then printed it.

You see a delicate Physalis alkekengi plant pressed onto paper. Its lantern-like orange husks glow in soft brown ink. The leaves and stems are sharp, like real.

This isn’t just a drawing. The artist pressed the actual plant between metal plates, then printed it. A rare mix of nature and printmaking in 1856.

Look closer at the edges. Tiny cross-hatching gives depth where the plant lifts off the page.

Overview

Physalis Alkekengi is a unique print created by Alois Pokorny in 1856, utilizing a distinctive natural printing process. The work captures the intricate details of the Alkekengi officinarum plant.

Subject & Meaning

The subject of the print is the Physalis alkekengi plant, accurately rendered through a process that incorporates the actual plant material. The depiction highlights the plant's characteristic lantern-like orange husks, leaves, and stems with remarkable fidelity.

Technique & Style

Pokorny employed a novel technique for the time, pressing the dried plant between copper and lead plates. The lead plate was then electroplated, and the image was printed in brown ink using an intaglio method. Subtle cross-hatching at the edges enhances the illusion of depth.

History & Provenance

Created in 1856, Physalis Alkekengi represents an early example of combining natural elements with intaglio printmaking. The specific provenance and exhibition history of this piece are not detailed in available information.

Context

This work reflects 19th-century innovations in printmaking and a growing interest in botanical accuracy. It blends artistic expression with scientific observation, characteristic of the period's intersection of art and natural history.

Legacy

Physalis Alkekengi contributes to the development of experimental printmaking techniques that integrate natural materials. Its influence can be seen in later movements exploring the intersection of nature and print art, though its direct impact is not widely documented.