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Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

-0001

1932

  • Work on this object began.

2024

  • You found it!

Book Illustration, Art Forms in Nature, Second Series; Hordeum distichum (Barley)

This is a book illustration. It was published by E. Weyhe. It is dated 1932. Its medium is photographic reproduction on paper. It is a part of the Smithsonian Libraries department.

Karl Blossfeldt, a German photographer, sculptor, teacher, and artist who worked in Berlin, first published Urformen der Kunst (Art Forms in Nature) in the late 1920s; it was later followed by English editions. Throughout the series, Blossfeldt presents close-up images of plant details photographed in a stark setting. As the title suggests, the photographs reveal the intricate form and structure of each specimen, often visually transforming them into objects that appear to be industrially manufactured rather than found in nature. The plant forms, structures, patterns, and textures in Art Forms in Nature continue to inspire designers today.

It is credited Collection of Smithsonian Institution Libraries.

  • Brooch, Eucalyptus
  • brass, bronze, white gold, diamonds.
  • Courtesy of Marita von L'Estocq.
  • 62.2015.1a,b

Its dimensions are

H x W: 53 × 32.5 cm (20 7/8 × 12 13/16 in.)

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

For higher resolution or commercial use contact ArtResource.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/68776057/ |title=Book Illustration, Art Forms in Nature, Second Series; Hordeum distichum (Barley) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=25 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>