Plant Study with Hops Branch c. 1810

Curator: Here we have Carl Wilhelm Kolbe’s “Plant Study with Hops Branch," currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s so precisely rendered; those leaves seem to practically rustle off the page. The dense network of lines creates an intriguing texture. Curator: Exactly. Kolbe was a master of etching, and he uses the technique here to meticulously depict the textures and forms of these plants. He's really showing off! Editor: The composition is intriguing. The botanical forms almost seem to burst forth from the picture plane, don't they? Curator: I agree. It feels very immersive, almost as if you're right there, hidden amongst them. The piece has an underlying feeling of exuberance. Editor: It’s a fascinating demonstration of how close observation can reveal such complexity. Curator: Indeed, Kolbe invites us to really see the hidden beauty in the everyday. Editor: Yes, I think I will carry that sense of wonder with me today.