Plantstudie 1928

This photograph, "Plantstudie," by Karl Blossfeldt, gives us a branch, up close and personal, like a portrait. The monochromatic palette isn't about what we see, but how we see. Process is everything, right? Look at how the light renders the plant’s surface, those subtle gradations of tone, making it almost sculptural. It's not just a botanical study, it’s an exploration of form and texture. The light isn't harsh; it's soft, embracing. The details emerge, those tiny hairs or the way the stem swells at each node, all revealed with loving care. It's all about the surface, so tactile, and yet so flat. I am reminded of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, maybe. Like them, Blossfeldt shows us the beauty and strangeness of the everyday, elevated to something monumental through the act of observation. There’s so much you can do with one plant.