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About this listing -

This listing is for the authentic original Karl Blossfeldt Photogravure pictured. Because every monitor displays differently, expect that there will be some variance between what you see on the monitor and how the print will look in your hands. The image posted on this listing is as representative as I could make it. The print in this listing is an authentic photogravure printed almost 80 years ago.

Important Note -

This is an authentic original antique photogravure taken from a bound volume. Some dealers trim the margins to remove the characteristic bucking & thumbing from having been bound as a page in a volume. Trimming is done to present a tidy and symmetrical appearance. This print is entirely untrimmed to preserve as much of the original page as possible. The binding margin will have a rough appearance & be slightly thicker as the adhesive binding stub remains in place.

About the work -

Wunder In Der Natur (Miracles in Nature)

The print measures approximately 9 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches, and is in good condition, without foxing on good quality paper. A copy of the title page will be included with the print.

About the Author -

Karl Blossfeldt was born in Schielo, Germany, early on (1865-1932) he was a sculptor's apprentice and modeler at the Art Ironworks and Foundry in Magdesprung. After studying painting and sculpture on a scholarship at the School of the Royal Museum of Arts and Crafts in Berlin from 1884 to 1891, he worked under Professor Meurer in Italy, Greece, and North Africa collecting plant specimens. It was during these years that Blossfeldt?s interest in plant photography blossomed, along with the study of music.

For about 33 years, from 1898 to 1931, he was a professor in the sculpture of living plants at the Kunstgewerbemuseum (College of Arts and Crafts) in Berlin. In 1899, he began to photograph plant forms with a home made camera incorporating these studies into his teaching curriculum. Blossfeldt continued to travel throughout his life, particularly in the Mediterranean, collecting specimens of foreign plants. He retired in 1931.

Influenced by the 19th century German tradition of natural philosophy, Karl Blossfeldt believed that "the plant must be valued as a totally artistic and architectural structure." Over a period of 30 years, he photographed leaves, seed pods, stems, and other plant parts, against neutral white or grey backgrounds in Northern light & under magnification. He drew inspiration, like many before him, from the medical botany & herbaria of the late Middle Ages and the 17th and 18th centuries. Deeply steeped in many disciplines, both scientific, creative & artistic, he has distilled a vision of the botanical world that is so vibrant & powerful, it bridges & fuses many worlds. It is a vision that has remained unfailing contemporary & that never ceases to amaze & delight those who love plant forms.

Condition notes for this listing -

Print is in good condition on lightly toned paper, with slightly lighter toning at binding margin. Because the print is an antique you can expect some imperfections due to age and handling. Please review the image carefully to assess condition.

Please note: This is an authentic original antique photogravure taken from a bound volume. The print is entirely untrimmed to preserve as much of the original page as possible. The binding margin will have a rough appearance & be slightly thicker as the adhesive binding stub remains in place.

About Condition Terms -

Toning or Age toning - Toning is the darkening of paper over time. Toning comes in varying degree, from creamy white to very tanned, and is very common in antique prints.

Foxing - Foxing is distinct darkening of the paper in small or large spots. Foxing can happen in one fair sized spot or it can be "freckled" all over the paper (and all possible combinations).

Offset or Text offset - Offset happens when the print has been in direct contact with a page of text for an extended period of time. Offset can be dark where the ink has smudged or transferred onto the print, or light when the acids in the ink have burned (toned) the facing print.

Trimmed - Trimming happens (usually during the binding process) when one or more margins (top, bottom, left or right) is cut down to fit in the selected binding. Unfortunately, trimming can sometimes effect the image area inside the plate mark.

Plate Mark - The area that the image occupies. If you look closely at a copper plate engraving you can see the depression where the copper plate was pressed into the paper while the image was being printed, that is the plate mark.

Soiling - Any mark on the paper that isn't part of the printing process. Remember, these prints came from a magazine that was later bound into volumes. Sometimes people aren't very careful with books and magazines and often handle them without washing their hands (this may be especially true of botanical magazine that was marketed to, avid, wealthy gardeners). So, there may be actual dirt on the 200ish year old print.

Note on Shipping -

These prints will be shipped rolled. Rolling is cost effective & non-damaging. Many top tier print dealers roll their prints for shipment. Once your prints arrive, unroll them and put them between two heavy books for a couple of days and they should flatten out beautifully. Alternatively, your framer can press them out.