Natural Forms Investigation
Natural forms within art is the detailed study of things formed or constituted into existence by nature, and many artists have focused their work on research into the beauty of natural objects. Art pieces depicting natural forms vary from appearing incredibly abstract and obscure, to very detailed and close up observations. The three artists I have researched for investigation, Georgia O’Keeffe, Karl Blossfeldt and Ernst Haeckel, all vary in their styles and techniques, and their work also focuses on different sections within the natural world.
Firstly, I have focused my research on the 1920s artist, Georgia O’Keeffe who, as she developed as a well-known artist, tried representational painting, For almost two decades O’Keeffe had used flowers as subject matter in her works, and it is suggested that these paintings had erotic connotations symbolising that of a woman’s genitalia. However, Georgia O’Keeffe was a strong feminist, and has in fact denied that her works were ever meant to have such a meaning. The quantity of her paintings created in this particular seemingly sensual style however to me suggests that there was an implication behind her work, a theme that reoccurs many times. The artist did respond to the interpretations by critics of her abstractions to be an expression of her sexuality, in her comment: “Well – I made you take time to look at what I saw and when you took time to really notice my flowers you hung all your own associations with flowers on my flower and you write about my flower as if I think and see what you think and see of the flower – and I don’t.” However, the painting I have selected below could be an example of her ‘representational’ works.
In my view, this is the most explicit of O’Keeffe’s flower paintings and presents the sexual anatomy of the flower in sharp focus. By drawing particular attention and question to this subject, O’Keeffe could have been attempting to contradict the critical notion that her subject matter was related exclusively to her gender and sexuality. I admire the bold and vibrant brushstrokes of the painting, and the boldness of the colours used which complement each other well. However, I feel this painting is a little bit too on the simplistic and abstract side, and prefer more of her detailed creations. On analysis, the brush work is not that sophisticated close up and even could be said to have a crude effect to it compared to other artists. However I believe that her work when viewed from further way, all the rough brush strokes make the painting come together, with a rich and blended look very unique to her style/
One of my favourite works by Georgia O’Keeffe is this painting positioned above.
Karl Blossfeldt
The photographer Karl Blossfeldt, born in Schielo in the Harz on June 13, 1865, served an apprenticeship as a sculptor and modeler during the years 1881-84 and thereafter completed studies in painting and music in Berlin. In 1890-96, he was an assistant to the art teacher and theoretician Moritz Meurer, who created a large collection of instructional materials from natural models. Blossfeldt traveled with colleagues to Southern Europe and North Africa, where he took his first pictures of the flora typical for those regions with a plate camera he had built himself. At this time he began with a systematic documentation of the most diverse plants. In total, over 6,000 photographs from the world of plants were created.
At the end of the 1890’s, Blossfeldt was hired to teach at the school of the Royal Museum of Arts and Crafts in Berlin. For over 30 years he was an assistant professor and later professor of plant drawing and modeling. Blossfeldt’s pictures helped him explain to his students that "nature educates us into beauty and
