Art Forms in Nature 67 1928

Karl Blossfeldt made this silver gelatin print, ‘Art Forms in Nature 67’ at some point in his career. It's a photograph of plants, but presented in such a way that they appear almost sculptural, or like architectural models. I imagine Blossfeldt relishing the forms he found in nature. The two plants on either side have a rigorous verticality to them, while the central forms are more exploded. He’s isolating and elevating these natural forms so we can really see them. I bet Blossfeldt walked around with his camera, composing shots, adjusting the light, trying to find the perfect angle. There’s something almost scientific about his methodology, but also deeply artistic. It's like he’s trying to get at some kind of truth about nature, revealing the underlying structures and patterns that shape the world around us. And in doing so, he’s also showing us how art can help us see things in a new light. It's a very beautiful and thought-provoking exchange.