Arethusa bulbosa- Arethusa Wild Pink 1931

This photogravure from sometime between 1898 and 1924 by Edwin Hale Lincoln gives me a sense of the artist very carefully placing the flowers, trying to capture each stem and bloom, not just as specimens, but as personalities. It's a study in sepia, and when I look at it, I wonder about the process. Was it slow, measured, and deliberate, or was there a sense of urgency, racing against the wilting blooms? The textures of the paper and the shadows give the piece a tactile quality, making me feel like I could reach out and touch the delicate petals. Each flower seems to have its own personality, some standing tall and proud, others drooping slightly as if whispering secrets. I see an affinity with painters like Georgia O'Keeffe. I think Edwin was trying to capture not just the appearance of the flowers, but their essence, their inner life. I can see a conversation happening between artists across time, each one building on the discoveries of the others, and the endless inspiration that blooms from the natural world.