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Equisetum hiemale

Karl Blossfeldt

Artwork Details

Equisetum hiemale
1928
Karl Blossfeldt
rotogravure on paper
9 5/16 in x 12 1/8 in (23.65 cm x 30.8 cm)
Gift of Eeta Gershow
2014/2.5

Description

Subject Matter:

Photographed from above at a slight angle, this image depicts a closeup view of a section of a plant stem. Centrally composed, it occupies most of the image. Sitting against a grey background, the organic form is cylindrical in shape, the outside lined with evenly-spaced corrugated ribs. Located past each of these ribs are holes that run down the length of the stem.  The stem is tube-like, its center hollow. Positioned in front of a powerful magnifying lens, this form was enlarged thirty times its size, rendering its delicate textures in crisp detail. Printed in matte, green-black tones, this image originally appeared in the books, Urformen der Kunst  (1928) and Art Forms in Nature (1929), and accompanied other closeup views of botanical specimens.

Physical Description:

This image depicts a closeup view of a section of a plant's stem positioned against a dark background.  

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.