Mullein, Siebengebirge c. 1930 - 1938

August Sander made this photograph of a mullein plant in Siebengebirge using gelatin silver. It’s a study in grey, where the tones are so finely rendered that everything seems to emerge from the shadows. The plant itself has a ghostly presence. It’s not just a botanical study, but a character. The textures of the leaves and flowers are so delicate, almost like a memory. I can imagine Sander adjusting his lens, finding that sweet spot where the plant comes into focus, while the background remains a blur of dark foliage and rocks. The composition reminds me of Walker Evans, or even some of the New Topographics photographers. But there’s also something deeply personal here. It’s like Sander is trying to capture the essence of this plant, its resilience, its quiet beauty. It speaks to the idea that art is about seeing, really seeing, the world around us and finding something extraordinary in the ordinary.