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Open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
Featured event:

Block Party
Join us June 6
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Urformen der Kunst

1928

Karl Blossfeldt

Associated Names

Karl Blossfeldt

Artist, German, 1865 - 1932

This is a photograph of a book cover. The image features a dark green book cover with the title "URFORMEN DER KUNST" printed in gold lettering prominently in the center. Below the title, there is a decorative gold emblem resembling a stylized plant or tree. The edges and corners of the book reveal signs of wear, such as fraying and slight tears. The cover is made of fabric material, which gives it a textured appearance.

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Artwork overview

Medium

portfolio of 120 photogravures
Credit Line

Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon and Patrons' Permanent Fund
Dimensions

overall: 31.75 × 25.4 × 2.54 cm (12 1/2 × 10 × 1 in.)
Accession Number

2006.133.34.1-120
Portfolio Title

Urformen der Kunst

The image shows a close-up of the top section of a vertically ribbed cactus in various shades of gray. The cactus has a columnar shape with ridges and grooves, ending in a small elevated peak. It is centrally positioned within a rectangular border, against a plain background with slight shadowing. The edges are bordered by a light-colored frame, with a numeral "1" in the bottom-right corner. — Equisetum hiemale

Karl Blossfeldt

1928

The image displays three vertically oriented cone-shaped sculptures with textured and layered designs in grayscale. The material appears to have a smooth finish with ridges and grooves, possibly indicating a wood or metal medium. Each sculpture tapers towards the top and features stacked or layered sections. The sculptures are presented in a row, suggesting a sense of uniformity or thematic connection between them. — a Equisetum hiemale; b Equisetum maximum; c Equisetum hiemale

Karl Blossfeldt

1928

The image depicts two similar sculptural forms positioned side by side. Both are vertically elongated, tapering cylindrical shapes with a ribbed texture. The sculptures resemble tapered columns or towers with multiple tiers. They have a grooved pattern running vertically along their surfaces, and each tier slightly protrudes over the one beneath it. The top of each sculpture narrows into a pointed tip. The sculptures are monochrome in shades of gray, but the specific material is not identifiable. The background of the image is sepia-toned. — Equisetum hiemale

Karl Blossfeldt

1928

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Mary and Dan Solomon; purchase and gift to NGA, 2006.

Associated Names

Dan and Mary Solomon

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