Forsythia suspensa

Forsythia suspensa

Karl Blossfeldt

1928

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white photo of a single flower stem. The stem holds three buds—one unopened, one half-open, and one fully bloomed—with sharp, pointed leaves. The background is plain and dark, making the textures of the plant stand out clearly. The artist used a camera to capture tiny details, like the rough skin of the buds and the thin lines of the leaves. It looks almost like a science drawing, but it’s actually a work of art. If you like this close-up style, check out Blossfeldt, Karl.

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