Accession Number
2014/2.11

Title
Taraxacum officinalis

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
This photograph depicts a closeup view of a dandelion flower’s head. On the cusp of blooming, the flower’s vitality can be felt within the tightly closed bud at the top of the plant. The flower’s bracts — the limply hanging leaves that form around the base of the stem — droop downwards.  Positioned against a light grey background, the photograph’s view has a scientific, empirical feel.  Blossfeldt’s use of a powerful magnifying lens allowed him to render the delicate textures of this flower bud in sumptuous 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 photograph depicts a closeup view of a flower bud against a light 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
botanical illustrations
botany
buds
flowers (plant components)
natural history specimens
plant material
pod (seed material)
scientific illustrations (images)
scientific photography
specimens