Art Forms in Nature 43 1928

Karl Blossfeldt made this photograph of plant life, entitled Art Forms in Nature 43, at some point in his career, and what a beauty it is. The grayscale image zeroes in on the elegant form of a botanical sample. I imagine Karl hunched over, adjusting his camera to isolate and immortalize this delicate thing. He’s trying to show us that nature is full of sculptural possibilities, that these shapes can be art too. The plant rises like a candelabra, each tendril spiraling outward. It makes me think of the organic lines you find in Art Nouveau. If I was painting this, I’d want to exaggerate those twists and turns. I’d thicken the lines, maybe add some unexpected color to amp up the drama. Blossfeldt’s work reminds me that the world is our studio, brimming with inspiration if we just take a closer look.