Corallorrhiza wisteriana- Wister's Coral Root 1931

Edwin Hale Lincoln made this gelatin silver print called 'Corallorrhiza wisteriana- Wister's Coral Root'. The image shows two examples of the parasitic flowering plant, and it reflects a rising interest in botany at the turn of the twentieth century. What does it mean to picture plants in this way? Photography was becoming a more established medium during this time, and one with presumed objectivity. Lincoln’s work was tied to the Country Life Movement, which was a reaction to increasing urbanization and industrialization in the United States. The movement idealized rural life and sought to preserve natural resources. During this time, the desire to classify and catalogue the natural world became a widespread cultural project. The creation and appreciation of art is always shaped by the social, economic, and political conditions in which it is made. It is the task of the art historian to connect these elements. Researching publications and photography from the time is essential to gaining a full understanding.