Equisetum hiemale

Accession Number
2014/2.5

Title
Equisetum hiemale

Artist(s)
Karl Blossfeldt

Artist Nationality
German (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1928

Medium & Support
rotogravure on paper

Dimensions
9 5/16 in x 12 1/8 in (23.65 cm x 30.8 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Eeta Gershow

Subject matter
Photographed from above at a slight angle, this image depicts a closeup view of a section of a plant stem. Centrally composed, it occupies most of the image. Sitting against a grey background, the organic form is cylindrical in shape, the outside lined with evenly-spaced corrugated ribs. Located past each of these ribs are holes that run down the length of the stem.  The stem is tube-like, its center hollow. Positioned in front of a powerful magnifying lens, this form was enlarged thirty times its size, rendering its delicate textures in crisp detail. Printed in matte, green-black tones, this image originally appeared in the books, Urformen der Kunst  (1928) and Art Forms in Nature (1929), and accompanied other closeup views of botanical specimens.

Physical Description
This image depicts a closeup view of a section of a plant's stem positioned against a dark background.  

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Additional Object Classification(s)
Print

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Pteridophyta (division)
Sphenophyta (division)
botanical illustrations
botany
natural history specimens
plant fiber
scientific illustrations (images)
specimens
stem (plant material)

& Author Notes

All Rights Reserved

On display

UMMA Gallery Location ➜ FFW, 2nd floor ➜ 218 (Eleanor Noyes Crumpacker)