Senecio viscosus
1856
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1856
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a dried plant with thin stems, small leaves, and clusters of tiny flowers. The roots are visible at the center, tangled and delicate. The whole thing is pressed flat, with a brownish tint that looks like ink on paper. The artist used a weird trick: they pressed the real plant between metal plates, then printed it like a stamp. It’s not painted—it’s a direct copy of the plant itself. Want to see more? Look up technique: cross-hatching to see how other artists used lines to create texture.
