Two Callas
A close-up study of two calla lilies rendered in rich, luminous tones of black and white, this photograph showcases Cunningham's mastery of botanical form and light. The elegant curves and sculptural quality of the flowers are highlighted through precise tonal contrasts, drawing attention to the natural geometry inherent in the blooms. Cunningham's intimate framing transforms the familiar flowers into an exploration of abstract shape and organic beauty.
- Medium
- Gelatin silver print, printed no later than 1964.
- Location
- Phillips, Salt Lake City, UT
- Spotted At
- Auction House · PhillipsView on map
🔨 Auction Lot
Photographs from the Collection of the Art Institute of Chicago
October 1, 2014
More by Imogen Cunningham
Artists in conversation
Edward Weston
American · b. 1886
Weston created iconic close-up gelatin silver prints of botanical and natural forms, including his celebrated pepper and shell series, sharing Cunningham's approach of transforming organic subjects into sculptural abstractions through precise tonal contrasts and intimate framing.
Karl Blossfeldt
German · b. 1865
Blossfeldt produced luminous black and white close-up photographs of plant forms that emphasize natural geometry and structural elegance, closely mirroring Cunningham's method of revealing abstract beauty within botanical subjects through meticulous tonal rendering.
Paul Strand
American · b. 1890
Strand's modernist black and white still life and botanical photography shares Cunningham's minimalist composition and rich tonal depth, using close-up framing to transform natural forms into explorations of pure shape, shadow, and organic structure.
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