Magnolia Blossom, 1929
Gelatin silver print
10 ¾ × 13 ⅝ inch print
14 ¾ × 20 inch mount
Printed 1970’s
Embossed signature on mount, Cunningham Trust label on verso
November 20, 2023
This exquisite image is Imogen Cunningham’s most famous botanical photograph. Cunningham cultivated her plants herself, utilizing her professional knowledge of botany, and photographed the flowers at home, in natural light. The rich tonal range of the photograph elegantly captures the softness of the light shining through the Magnolia petals. The picture is a perfect example of modernist beauty, where any trace of sentimentality has been removed from the rendering, allowing the innate grace of the flower’s design to sing out.
