Karl Blossfeldt, 1865-1932

by Karl Blossfeldt (Photographs), Hans Christian Adam

A serious man who earned his living as a teacher, Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932) seems an unlikely candidate for aesthetic canonization. But his photographs of plants, which he took in the thousands over more than thirty years, reveal a formally rigorous talent whose precision and dedication bridge the nineteenth and twentieth century worlds of image making. Beautifully but starkly composed against plain cardboard backgrounds, Blossfeldt's images, relying on a northern light for their sense of volume, reveal nothing of the man but everything of themselves. They are still-lifes, piercingly final statements on their subject, and have endured owing to their technical brilliance and the ongoing fascination of students and photographers. Like their maker, they are quietly and lastingly effective.

Genres: Photography, Art, Reference, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 1998

Reviews

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted on my book blog.

Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932) was a German teacher who devoted himself to the study of nature and the architectural / design elements hidden in plants, and revealed by him in his photographs. Using a magnifying lens, he would photograph flowers, buds, and seed capsules to reveal the extraordinary detail and internal logic of the growths.

What makes this book wonderful is not just its scientific value (which was what prompted Blossfledt); the images are aesthetically beautiful, the simple yet lovely forms intertwining and showing a side of nature we don't usually pay attention to.

I didn't like the essays as much as the rest of the book, even though they do go into depth into the work and the author. Still, the design is lovely, the photographs are expertly printed, and this is a gorgeous book.

[Felipe Assis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belas imagens, tão simples quanto artisticas... incrivel pensar que passamos por plantas a todo momento por ai e não nos atentamos para a complexibilidade das suas estruturas (talvez no fundo isso seja até bom) lindas formas, muito interessante tbm como a morfologia é feita de gato e sapato pela petria inconstacia das coisas, como é belo acompanhar as metamorfoses: de grão a ramo seco, nos faz lembrar que somos as mesmas coisas, que estamos sobre o crivo das mesmas resignações... Recomendo.

[Jacques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blossfeldt fotografeerde twijgjes, bloemen, zaden met de bedoeling de foto's te gebruiken als voorbeeld voor tekencursussen. Zijn werk werd een onuitputtelijke schat voor o.m. ontwerpers van ornamenten in de metaalindustrie. Het boek toont een rist aan schitterende fotografische kunstwerkjes en toont de relatie kunst, wetenschap en natuur. Een ode aan Karl Blossfeldt.

[Maren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic of botany, photography and design the photography in this volume is just as fresh and astonishing as when Blossfeldt created them. This collection of his many volumes includes the original introductions which may not feel as up to date, but it is valuable and instructive for the photography alone.

[Tracey- Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautuful photos

[Mel]

Mwhaha. This book is now mine... MINEEE

The internal design was clean and effective. My edition comes in English as well as two other languages (I'll update what they are if I figure them out). I skimmed through the text to get to the photographs, so I am unfit to do a detail review of the passages yet.

In any case, if you purchase this book, you will drown in a sea of mesmerizing plants (seeds, buds, flowers) presented in extraordinary means! This book is very inspirational and special to me. It reminds me the little surprises nature has for us, and to always take note of details (the "little happiness") life has to offer.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen scattered examples of Blossfeldt's photographs in books and magazines and thought they seemed mildly interesting. It wasn't until I saw a large display of his prints at the Rencontres d'Arles this summer that I realized how beautiful they are and what a sustained, remarkable vision Blossfeldt had. I was really pleased, then, to see that Taschen had brought out a volume of all the photographer's published work. The book is a fitting tribute to one man's dedication to the science of natural things and to his art.

[Parvoneh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the more beautiful books I have ever pulled from a shelf. The photographs are presented thoughtfully and the design is clean but so clever. I really want to work for Benedikt Taschen Verlag now.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing value in this particular edition, too much so to get too churlish about paper quality.