Cleistes divaricata- Spreading Pogonia 1931

"Cleistes divaricata- Spreading Pogonia" is a 1931 photogravure by American artist Edwin Hale Lincoln (1848-1938). The piece, housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, depicts two wild orchids, showcasing Lincoln's expertise in botanical illustration. Photogravure, a printing process popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lends a distinct, almost ethereal quality to the image, emphasizing the delicate nature of the flowers and the fine detail of the artist's hand. Lincoln's work often captured the beauty and fragility of natural subjects, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of botanical art.